Sepahan look to end Iranian drought

AFCCL - Sepahan made history when they became the first Iranian team to reach the final of the AFC Champions League, beating a number of highly fancied sides during their run to the championship game.

Playing in Asian football�s premier club competition for the third time in four years, the Hazfi Cup holders eliminated the likes of Saudi giants Al Shabab, former AFC Champions League winners Al Ain and Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale before disposing of Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates in the semi-finals.

As Iran�s only representatives in this year�s tournament following Esteghlal�s disqualification, Sepahan now find themselves on the verge of becoming the first club from their country to win a continental title since Pas claimed the Asian Club Championship in 1992.



GROUP STAGE


Sepahan 2 Al Ittihad 1

Sepahan had to battle from behind as they kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 home win against Al Ittihad. The Esfahan side trailed to a 12th minute goal by Anas Sari, but striker Seyed Salehi came to his side�s rescue, levelling the score in the 19th minute and netting the winner 10 minutes later to give his team a winning start.



Al Shabab 0 Sepahan 1

In what would ultimately prove to be their most crucial result of the group stage, Sepahan stunned Al Shabab in Riyadh. Armenian goalkeeper Armenak Petrosyan made a string of fine saves to deny the Saudi league champions before Salehi scored his third goal in two matches, seven minutes from time, to give the Iranian side the second straight win, putting them firmly on top of Group D.





Al Ain 3 Sepahan 2

Sepahan were looking to take a firm grip on the group and avenge a painful defeat suffered to Al Ain in 2005 but it was the winless United Arab Emirates league side that prevailed once again. The Iranians twice came from behind with Seyed Salehi and Emad Mohammed levelling the score after Ali Al Wehaibi and Musallem Al Hamdani had put the inaugural AFC Champions League winners ahead. But Frank Ongfiang netted the winner six minutes from time as Al Ain replicated the result of two years ago when they eliminated Sepahan on their run to the final.

Sepahan 1 Al Ain 1

Sepahan appeared to be on course for their third win in four games, only to be denied once again by Al Ain. Hossein Papi gave the home side the lead in Esfahan five minutes into the second half but Iraqi midfielder Hawar Mulla Mohammed equalised for Al Ain 11 minutes from time, leaving Sepahan tied for top spot in the group with Al Shabab on seven points with two games remaining.


Al Ittihad 0 Sepahan 5

Al Ittihad had not been beaten at home in five previous AFC Champions League matches but Sepahan tore apart the Syrian side in Aleppo. Iraqi midfielder Abdulwahab Abolheil opened the scoring after four minutes and Mohammed Noori added a second six minutes before the break. Noori scored again in the 70th minute while Iraqi international Emad Mohammed also found the Al Ittihad net twice (55th and 90th) to put them within touching distance of the knockout stage.


Sepahan 1 Al Shabab 0

After narrowly missing out on the quarter-finals on two occasions, Sepahan finally secured a berth in the knockout stage with a deserved home win against Al Shabab in Esfahan. The Iranians only needed a draw to secure top spot in the group but claimed their fourth win in six games after Al Shabab defender Hassan Maaz, who was later sent off, put the ball in his own net in the 33rd minute as he attempted to clear a throw in by Mohsen Bengar.


QUARTER-FINALS

Sepahan 0 Kawasaki Frontale 0

Playing in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for the first time, Sepahan appeared to have blown their opportunity when they failed to capitalise on home advantage against Kawasaki Frontale, as they were held to a goalless draw. It could even have been worse as the Japanese side had the best chance of the game 10 minutes from time when Sepahan goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi made a superb save to deny Kazuhiro Marakami.

Kawasaki Frontale 0 Sepahan 0 (Sepahan won penalty shoot-out 5-4)

Sepahan were dominated in Kawasaki but after holding out for another 120 minutes of goalless football, they eventually prevailed in the first AFC Champions League match to go to a penalty shoot-out since November 2002. Hiroyuki Taniguchi squandered Frontale's fourth spot kick while the visiting team converted all of the attempts with Jalal Akbari slotting home the decisive penalty to send Sepahan through to the last four.


SEMI-FINALS

Sepahan 3 Al Wahda 1

Sepahan played arguably their best game of the tournament so far to trounce Al Wahda in front of their delirious fans in Esfahan. Al Wahda had eliminated Saudi giants Al Hilal in the quarter-finals but the Abu Dhabi side fell behind after 11 minutes as Mahmoud Karimi scored from close range. Al Wahda were reduced to 10 men when Yasser Abdullah was sent off before the break but Mohamed Al Shehhi levelled the score early in the second half. However, Karimi restored Sepahan�s lead with his second of the match on the hour and skipper Moharram Navidkia converted from the penalty spot five minutes from time to put them in the driver�s seat.


Al Wahda 0 Sepahan 0

Defending their two-goal advantage in Abu Dhabi, Sepahan put on a disciplined defensive performance to frustrate Al Wahda in a goalless draw in the return match. Luka Bonacic�s side kept a clean sheet for the third time in four games as they secured a historic berth in the AFC Champions League final.