AFC Champions League Elite - Skocic challenges Tractor to aim for more

Tabriz: Tractor FC may have secured progression into the next stage of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ with two matches to spare but head coach Dragan Skocic is demanding that his side continue to aim for the stars

Monday’s 2-1 win against Qatar’s Al Duhail SC - which took the Islamic Republic of Iran side to 14 points - was achieved the hard way as a second half revival saw Shojae Khalilzadeh equalising with Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh then netting a stoppage time winner.

#ACLElite | Tractor FC (IRN) 2-1 Al Duhail SC (QAT)

"I am very happy with today's game, we played a great game,” said Skocic. “We gave the penalty away too easily in the first half but otherwise we produced a good half.

“We had more scoring opportunities. We were able to press the opponents well and closed them with discipline. I like this way of playing and today we played a little more with our minds and thoughts.

“We have a long season ahead of us. Our achievement has been satisfying, but we are looking to the future. There is no one in the locker room who is satisfied with advancing from the first stage, but what has been done is respectable.”

Djamel Belmadi was disappointed after lapses in concentration cost his side valuable points, with the Al Duhail head coach saying lack of control shown in the centre of the pitch meant they couldn’t capitalise on Benjamin Bourigeaud’s opener.

“We were close to securing a draw, with only two minutes remaining,” said Belmadi. “At least if we couldn't win, we should have earned a point, but in the end, we lost, which we didn't deserve to.

“We played with a different tactical approach, but we lost possession to the opponent. We were playing away against a well organised team, and as I mentioned yesterday, the impact of Marco Verratti's absence would be evident in the middle of the field.”

Rooted on seven points, Al Duhail will face UAE’s Sharjah FC and Iraq’s Al Shorta when the season resumes in February. Tractor will aim to sign off from the League Stage with victories against Qatar sides Al Sadd SC and Al Gharafa SC.

Skocic challenges Tractor to aim for more

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