Al-Sadd's forward Baghdad Bounedjah (1st-R) celebrates after scoring a goal with his teammates, Spanish midfielders Xavi Hernandez (1st-L) and Gabi (2nd-L) during the AFC Champions League football match Al-Sadd (Qatar) vs Esteghlal FC (Iran) at the Azadi stadium in Tehran on August 27, 2018. (AFP)
In the Asian Champions League, Esteghlal of Iran have lost in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Qatar’s Al-Sadd at Azadi Stadium.
Esteghlal unexpectedly took the lead in the 12th minute after the Al-Sadd keeper’s mistake allowed a back-pass to slip into his goal.
In the 2nd half, the visitors piled-up the pressure and scored the equalizer on the hour mark. Five minutes later Bounedjah made it 2-1 for Al-Sadd, following a through-ball from Xavi.
Bounedjah doubled his tally in the 74th minute from the spot to help his side get 1 step closer to the semi-finals. The 2 teams will play the return leg in Doha on September the 17th.
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