Quarter-final berth in sight for Esteghlal
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 21, 2013
Esteghlal are in pole position to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time with the recently-crowned Iran champions out to defend a healthy 4-2 advantage in Wednesday's Round of 16 second leg against Al Shabab Al Arabi.
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Esteghlal will look to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the first time with the newly-crowned Iran champions holding a 4-2 advantage over Al Shabab Al Arabi ahead of Wednesday’s second leg in Tehran. |
With two-time Asian Club Championship winners Esteghlal having lost both of their two previous appearances in the last 16, Luiz Henrique had opened the scoring for UAE Pro League side Al Shabab Al Arabi on the stroke of half-time last week in Dubai.
But Jlloyd Samuel, Javad Nekounam, Farhad Majidi and Khosro Heidari netted in the second half as Group D winners Esteghlal came from behind to take firm control of the tie ahead of the return fixture in Tehran.
"We achieved a big victory against a strong team in an important match," said Esteghlal coach Amir Ghalenoei following the first leg victory.
"Al Shabab are an organised side and they performed well in the first half as they stopped us from scoring.
"However, things changed in the second period as we had a good performance and we managed to score four goals and get an important win. However, the match was only a part of the encounter and there is still another match in Iran which will be decisive."
Despite facing a seeming uphill task to convert their first appearance in the last 16 into a place in the last eight, play-off winners Al Shabab Al Arabi are boosted by the return of defenders Mohammed Marzooq, Walid Abbas and Ali Mahmood and midfielder Hassan Ibrahim after the first team regulars missed last week's defeat due to suspension.
Also on Wednesday, Lekhwiya will look to advance to the last eight of the AFC Champions League for the first time as the Qatar champions seek to build on a 1-0 lead against Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in Doha.
A late deflected strike from Tunisian midfielder Youssef Al Msakni proved the difference at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium last week for Group B winners Lekhwiya, who are appearing in the AFC Champions League for only the second time having exited in the group stage last year.
"We should not be too happy with this result as there is still another match to play in Doha," said Lekhwiya's Belgian coach Eric Gerets, who helped Al Hilal reach the semi-finals of the 2010 AFC Champions League.
"We still have a big job to do and we must focus on the second leg in order to advance to the quarter-finals."
Two-time Asian champions Al Hilal reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the third time last year before losing to eventual champions Ulsan Hyundai.
Elsewhere, Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande entertain A-League Grand Final winners Central Coast Mariners eyeing a second consecutive quarter-final appearance after recording a 2-1 comeback win in last week's first leg in Australia.
Mitchell Duke had handed the Mariners the lead after seven minutes in Gosford only for Paraguayan striker Lucas Barrios and Brazilian forward Muriqui to hit back for Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou.
And Lippi is boosted by the return of Qin Sheng after the defender missed last week's win due to suspension.
Finally, unbeaten Kashiwa Reysol also have home advantage against former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with the Japanese Emperor's Cup winners holding a 2-0 first leg advantage.
Kashiwa took a huge step towards securing a place in the quarter-finals for the first time with headers from Masato Kudo and Tatsuya Masushima earning Japan's sole remaining representative a healthy advantage as Jeonbuk suffered a first defeat of the campaign.
The race for the quarter-finals resumes on Tuesday as K-League champions FC Seoul seek to build on last week's goalless draw against Beijing Guoan, while two-time semi-finalists Bunyodkor will look to overturn a 2-1 deficit against Thailand's Buriram United.
Saudi champions Al Shabab also entertain Qatar's Al Gharafa with a 2-1 lead from the first leg, while 2012 finalists Al Ahli will look to build on last week's 1-1 draw with El Jaish.
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