Saipa battle back for draw

AFC – Former World Player of the Year Rivaldo scored on his AFC Champions League debut for Kuruvchi (Bunyodkor) but Saipa twice recovered from deficits to hold the Uzbek side to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

The Brazilian struck in the 19th minute to restore his side’s lead just a minute after Iman Razaghirad’s powerful header had cancelled out Jose Luis Villanueva’s opening goal.

But Kianoush Rahmati’s deflected free-kick late in the first half brought Saipa back on level terms.

Villanueva hit the woodwork in the second half while Kuruvchi keeper Pavel Bugalo made good saves to deny Jalal Hosseini and Traore, setting up an interesting return match in Tashkent in a weeks’ time.

After a cagey start, the game burst into life in the 12th minute when the visitors took the lead.

Server Djeparov swung over a corner from the right and Jasur Hasanov out-jumped goalkeeper Vahid Sheikhveisi to flick the ball on to Luizao, who crashed his effort against the right post.

Villaneuva was first to the rebound, firing into the roof of the net from point blank range.

The home side were back on level terms six minutes later after good work from Omid Sharifnasab, who floated over an inviting cross from the right flank that was headed into the net by Iman Razaghirad

But with the Saipa fans still celebrating, Kuruvchi quickly regained the lead a minute later. Rivaldo flicked on to Villaneuva, whose quick return pass released the Brazilian who strolled through before stroking the ball past Sheikhveisi.

Rivaldo was then presented with an opportunity when Kuruvchi were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Saipa box on the half-hour but his weak effort did little to trouble Sheikhveisi

The Iranians levelled the score with a fortuitous equaliser in the 39th minute.

Rahmati’s weak free-kick from 25 metres should have caused little trouble for Bugalo but the ball took a wicked deflection off a defender, wrong-footing the Kuruvchi goalkeeper and rolling agonisingly into the bottom right corner of the net.

Villaneuva nearly restored the visitors’ lead 10 minutes into the second half when he gathered a cross from Djuraev and fired a shot that hit the base of the left upright and ricocheted across the face of goal into the grateful arms of Sheikhveisi.

Saipa had the better of the chances in the second half with Mohammad Parvin firing a free-kick narrowly wide in the 64th minute before Bugalo tipped over a Hosseini header 12 minutes later.

In stoppage time, Hossein Kaebi rolled a shot across the face of goal before Bugalo made a brilliant save to keep out an Issa Traore header in what was the final effort of the game.