Group D - MD2: Al Sadd Defeats Sepahan
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A terrific second half display helped Qatar’s Al Sadd SC climbs to top spot of Group D with a 3-0 victory over Sepahan FC of Iran at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
A brace from Hassan Al Haydos followed Akram Afif’s 51st-minute opener, as Sepahan was brought back down to earth after last week’s stunning 4-0 success away to Al Ain.
Al Sadd’s handsome win takes the team top of table on goal difference from Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, while Sepahan slips to third with four group stage matches to play.
It was a match full of action from the opening whistle, with both sides producing several clear-
Afif scored the first goal six minutes after the break.
Al Sadd’s second was a thing of beauty, with another flowing move culminating in a wonderful exchange between Bounedjah and Al Haydos; the former drilling in an inch perfect low cross, and the latter flicking the ball into the net with the back of his heel Gianfranco Zola-style to double the lead in the 72nd minute.
Al Haydos found the net again with a much simpler second six minutes later, this time steering the ball into an open net after more sparkling football from the hosts culminated in an inch-perfect square ball from Afif.
Al Sadd will face Al Ain away on March 3 while Sepahan will look to get back to winning ways against Al Nassr on the same day.
