AFC - Iranian cup winners Zob Ahan retained
their leadership of Group A of the AFC Champions League as they earned an
invaluable goalless away draw against Qatar Sports Club on Wednesday.
Hosts Qatar SC would have leapfrogged their Iranian counterparts with a win
but with their star-studded attack firing blanks on the night, Zob Ahan were
able to hold on to a narrow one-point lead over their Qatari rivals at the
top of the group.
Having registered a 3-3 draw against the same opponents on their home ground
in Esfahan on April 6, Zob Ahan had to give a good account of themselves in
Doha to hold out against the Qatar SC challenge and maintain their unbeaten
record in this year's AFC Champions League.
In a game of few chances, Meshal Mubaraq proved the most menacing threat to
the Iranian backline, who did an excellent job to thwart a series of
dangerous moves orchestrated by the Qatari international.
Former Argentine international Claudio Cannigia played the full 90 minutes
at the Al Rayyan Stadium, but failed to really threaten despite numerous
attempts on the Zob Ahan goal.
Zob Ahan came out of their defensive shell in the last 20 minutes but with
their strikers resorting mainly to long-range attempts, they drew a blank on
the night.
Caniggia's best chance to break the deadlock came in the final minute of the
match when a Mubaraq cross landed at his feet, but the former international
team-mate of football legend Diego Maradona, completely missed with a
left-footed flick from inside the Zob Ahan box.
Qualification for the quarter-finals is still very much up for grabs in
Group A following the withdrawal of Bahraini club Riffa from the AFC
Champions League earlier this week.
Zob Ahan will next play Pakhtakor on May 5, with the Uzbekistan team still
in with a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stage again as they lie
three points adrift of Zob Ahan, having played two games less than the
Iranians.
