Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah: Naft Tehran advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time on Wednesday despite losing 2-1 against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli at the King Abdullah Sports City.
The result was enough to ensure the Iranians notched up a win on the away goals rule after the aggregate score finished in a 2-2 draw, sending Alireza Mansourian’s side into the last eight.
Padovani (Leandro Padovani Celin) scored the all-important opener for Naft Tehran and even though Omar Al Soma scored twice for the home side it was not enough for Christian Gross’ team to progress.
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Leading by a single goal from the first leg in Tehran, Naft stunned their hosts in the 32nd minute when Iman Mobali’s free kick from the right swung over the Al Ahli defence and Padovani was on hand to send his side-foot volley past Abdullah Al Muaiouf.
Al Ahli, however, responded almost immediately. Salman Muwashar shot over the bar in the 34th minute while, two minutes later, the scores were level when Al Soma netted from close range as he knocked Aqeel Al Sahabi’s cutback over the goal line.
With three minutes remaining in the half, the Saudis went ahead on the evening and pulled level on aggregate when Al Soma struck again, this time steering his downward header from Salman Muwashar’s cross beyond Alireza Beiranvand and in off the post.
Naft were teetering on the brink of falling apart but the second half brought with it a renewed sense of purpose from the Iranians, and Mansourian’s side almost moved closer to the win in the 51st minute, only for Vahid Amiry to see his header come back off the post.
Al Ahli continued to push as tempers grew increasingly frayed. Mustafa Al Bassas somehow wriggled his way through the Naft defence before his shot was hacked clear while, 11 minutes from time, Al Soma was denied a spectacular third when his long-range free kick came back off the woodwork.
Substitute Bruno Cesar tried his luck from the edge of the area, only for Beiranvand to smother his shot as Al Ahli grew increasingly desperate while Al Shabi was also denied when his header was collected by the keeper.
A stop-start second half saw Korea Republic referee Kim Dong-jin add eight minutes of stoppage time to the game, but even that was not enough for Al Ahli to find a way back and Naft advanced.
Photo: WSG