Sepahan closes in on Asian Champions League

MNA – Iran Pro League-winning Sepahan moved a step closer to the Asian Champions League with a valuable 1-1 draw with Persepolis in the League Cup first-leg game here Wednesday.

Striker Hamid Shafiei grabbed the equalizer on 74 minutes to leave Isfahan’s yellow-shirted Sepahan one scoreless tie from the Asian tournament.

Supported by some 80,000 aficionados in Azadi Stadium, Persepolis should have scored the opener after 28 minutes when new signing Alireza Vahedi-Nikbakht’s bicycle kick from close range dangerously passed the visitor’s woodwork.

Shafiei also gave the Reds a chill three minutes later as his angled drive looked to find the back of the net.

Five minutes from the interval, Sepahan defender Hadi Aqili brought down skillful striker Hossein Badamaki and the referee Mohsen Torki showed the spot.

Left winger Mehrzad Ma’danchi, who thought of getting on the scoresheet, was beaten by in-form keeper Armenak Petrossian who parried out the spot kick.

Ma’danchi was given another chance as the goalie was flagged to have moved untimely, but the midfielder failed to keep his nerves, firing the ball above the crossbar.

Vahedi-Nikbakht, however, triggered celebrations among the partisan crowd three minutes deep into additional time, sending a superb pass from Badamaki into the net.

Persepolis came close to the second in the 58th minute after a brilliant solo effort from fullback Saha who left Badamaki alone with Petrossian to beat, but the striker’s nonpoisonous shot was easily saved.

The home team paid a heavy price for its complacency 16 minutes from time. Shafiei combined with substitute Emad Reza in the heart of Persepolis defense, side-footing the ball from behind the box into the top left corner of Farshid Karimi’s net.

Sepahan had other scoring chances in the remaining minutes, but it was satisfied with the stalemate.

The two sides will play the deciding second leg in Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium on Sept. 22. The aggregate winner will be the second team that represents the country in the Asian Champions League.

Iran Pro League holder Esteqlal of the capital has already booked a berth in the tournament.