Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: A Mame Thiam hat-trick earned Esteghlal the final West Asia AFC Champions League quarter-final ticket as they defeated fellow Islamic Republic of Iran side Zobahan 3-1 in Tuesday's second leg, securing a 3-2 aggregate win.
After a tense start, Esteghlal were awarded a penalty kick inside 11 minutes and Senegalese forward Thiam fired from the spot into the bottom left corner, taking the tie back to square one.
Hamid Bouhamdan came close to levelling the score for Zobahan in the 29th minute but his shot from the left cannoned off the woodwork.
As the first half neared its end, Thiam was on target again, this time from outside the box as he curled a left-footed effort that left goalkeeper Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri helpless to put Esteghlal in front four minutes before the break.