Iran’s Zob Ahan eases past PFC Lokomotiv 2-0 in 2018 AFC Champions League
Iranian football club Zob Ahan Isfahan has earned a valuable win in the group stage of the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, triumphing over PFC Lokomotiv Tashkent of Uzbekistan.
On Monday evening, the Isfahan-based team, which competes in the Persian Gulf Pro League, defeated the visitors 2-0 at the end of a Group B match played in Foolad Shahr Stadium just outside the central Iranian city of Isfahan.
The Uzbeks started the match strongly and managed to dominate possession during the early parts of the game.
Even though the first half featured some signs of an interesting match, it ended scoreless to keep everyone waiting for the second period.
Zob Ahan maintained its composure after the break, and vigorously sought to open the scoring.
In the 47th minute, 27-year-old vice captain Morteza Tabrizi hammered the ball home with a powerful header, and put the hosts 1-0 ahead.
Even though PFC Lokomotiv Tashkent players made strenuous efforts to break through Zob Ahan’s defensive barrier, their attempts did not pay off and they had to settle with the Iranian team’s one-goal cushion.
Finally in the second minute of the added time, midfielder Mohammad Reza Hosseini doubled Zob Ahan’s lead when he picked a close-range strike after PFC Lokomotiv Tashkent’s defense line could not parry Mehdi Rajabzadeh's corner.
In another match of the day, al-Gharafa Sports Club of Qatar trounced Iranian professional soccer club Tractor Sazi Tabriz, also known as Tractor, 3-0 in Group A of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
Al-Gharafa got off to a flyer, and was in front after just 11 minutes when Mehdi Taremi powered in a header from Othman al-Yahri’s cross.
Ten minutes later, defensive mistakes from Sime Gregov cost Tractor another goal.
Taremi seized the chance to double his tally in the dying seconds of the game.
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