AFCL - Al Karama skipper Abdul Kader Refai
converted a first-half free kick as the recently-crowned Syrian champions
beat Iran’s Saba Battery 1-0 to become the first team from their country to
advance to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League.
The home side were dealt an early blow when in-form striker Ahmad Turkmani
had to be taken off after just eight minutes but Refai struck just after the
half-hour mark with his third Champions League goal to send Al Karama into
the quarter-final draw.
With Saba Battery holding a one-point lead in Group C at the start of play,
Al Karama went into their match at a raucous Khaled Ibn Al Waleed Stadium
knowing that they needed nothing less than victory to overhaul the Iranian
side.
Turkmani thought that he had given his side a dream start when he put the
ball into the Saba Battery net after only 40 seconds but his effort was
ruled out for offside.
Worse was to follow for the veteran striker as cramp forced him to be
replaced by Abdulrahman Al Akari in the eighth minute.
Despite the setback, Karama continued to attack and the home fans were on
their feet again five minutes later when Iyad Mando found himself in a
one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Asghar Karamollahi but blasted the ball
over the crossbar.
In the 21st minute, defender Hassa Abbas tested Karamollahi with a powerful
drive from distance that the Saba Battery ‘keeper punched away for a corner.
Saba Battery offered little threat for much of the opening half but were
only denied by the woodwork in the 28th minute when Hossain Yousefi lofted
ball from the right slammed against the bar.
Al Karama finally took a deserved lead four minutes later when Jehad Al
Hussein was fouled just inches outside the Saba penalty area and Refai beat
Karamollahi with a sweetly-struck free kick to send the home fans into
raptures.
Saba Battery had an opportunity to restore parity soon afterwards but
goalkeeper Mosab Balhous managed to punch away Hossain Yousefi’s corner
before it fell to veteran striker Ali Daei.
Close to half-time, Karamollahi came to his side’s rescue once again, as he
dived full stretch to keep out Mohamad Al Hamwi’s lovely first-time volley
from the edge of the area.
Saba had been on the back foot for much of the opening period but they
pressed hard after the break to find a way through the resolute Al Karama
defence.
Ten minutes after the restart, Ali Daei had an opportunity to add to his
tally of five goals from a free kick but the 37-year-old’s attempt was kept
out by the defensive wall.
The Syrians tried to hit their opponents with swift counter-attacks but they
lacked the finishing touch in front of Karamollahi’s goal as Mohamad Al
Hamwi and Jehad Kassab both wasted chances to make the game safe for the
hosts.
The misses would not prove costly though as Balhous and his defence kept the
Iranian side at bay, earning Al Karama a place in the last eight of Asia’s
premier club competition.
