Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Amir Motahhari’s goal was enough to secure Naft Tehran’s first-ever appearance in the AFC Champions League group stage after their historic 1-0 victory over Qatari side El Jaish in the AFC Champions League play-off at the Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.
After a goalless first half which featured little action, the Iranian side took the lead five minutes after the interval when forward Motahhari (pictured) met midfielder Iman Mobali’s cross from the left to grab the only goal of the game.
Naft, currently leading the Iran league, now join inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain, Uzbek champions Pakhtakor and Saudi Arabia King’s Cup holders Al Shabab in Group B of the AFC Champions League.
The game started slowly but El Jaish goalkeeper Saoud Al Khatar was called into action after six minutes when Mobali’s goal-bound free kick from the left-hand side flew past everyone, forcing the custodian to punch over to safety.
The Qataris had their first opportunity of note on the 15 minute mark, when forward Abdulqadir Ilyas burst into the penalty box from the right-hand side to latch onto a long ball ahead of the El Jaish defender but was unable to pull it back into the danger zone before it ran out of play.
Midway through the first half, Naft captain Alireza Ezati’s scorching left-foot drive from fully 25 yards flew past Al Khatar’s left post, before midfielder Vahid Amiri shot over from a similar distance five minutes before the interval.
And two minutes before half time, El Jaish’s Brazilian midfielder Wagner Ribeiro fizzed a right-foot effort from distance wide as the teams went in level at the break
Naft started the second period the stronger and nearly took the lead in the 48th minute when a poorly cleared corner from the right fell to Brazil-born Italian defender Leandro Padovani, but his goal-bound drive was deflected over.
However, the Iranian side did go in front in the 50th minute when Mobali’s beautifully floated cross from the left-hand side was headed home by the unmarked Motahhari from eight yards out.
As the second half wore on, it seemed as though Naft would see the game out without any problems but they had a scare on 82 minutes when Wagner Ribeiro’s corner from the left was headed wide by the unmarked substitute Mohammed Muntari from just 10 yards out.
And in the final minute Muntari had a golden opportunity to level the score but fired directly at Naft custodian Alireza Beiranvand with the goal at his mercy and the hosts held out to ensure their milestone appearance in the AFC Champions League group stage.
The Iranian side will now travel to Tashkent to face Pakhtakor in their Group B opener next Tuesday.
Photo: WSG