ACL Group D - MD1: Sepahan Eases Past Al Ain
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Sepahan FC of Iran began its 2020 AFC Champions League campaign on high note after easing past UAE’s AL Ain 4-0 in Group D at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Tuesday.
Sepahan took a half-time lead courtesy of Mohammad Mohebbi’s header, while goals from Brazilian Kiros, Soroush Rafiei and Mohammad Tayebi sealed an emphatic victory.
Al Ain’s first chance came in the 18th minute when Kodjo Laba’s right footed shot from outside the box was saved by Sepahan goalie Payam Niazmand.
Laba caused problems for Sepahan again shortly after when the Togolese international came within striking distance from the counter-attack but Shayan Mosleh blocked his goal-bound effort.
Sepahan’s hard work paid off handsomely on 38 minutes when Mohebbi rose the highest to nod home the opener from close range off Saeid Aghaei’s cross.
Sepahan, meeting Al Ain for the first time in the competition, tightened their grip a minute after the restart thanks to Kiros’ quick feet inside the box when he pounced on an errant back pass to slot the ball past a full stretch Khalid Eisa.
Al Ain, the 2003 AFC Champions League winners, looked out of sorts as they began to give the ball away and fell further behind in the 52nd minute as Aghaei found an unmarked Rafiei, who blasted the ball into the bottom right corner to put Sepahan three goals up.
Sepahan inflicted more damage in the 78th minute through Tayebi’s header into the top left corner following Omid Noorafkan’s cross.
Sepahan will face Qatar’s Al Sadd SC, while Al Ain will be hoping to bounce back against Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia.
