Al Rayyan and Persepolis players vie for the ball possession during yesterday's AFC Champions League Group E match played in Goa, India. Pic: AFC
Persepolis FC flexed their credentials as favourites as they came from behind to defeat Al Rayyan SC 3-1 in Group E of the 2021 AFC Champions League at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, yesterday.
The Iranian side turned on the power in the second half as they added to the 1-0 opening day win against UAE’s Al Wahda FSCC while Al Rayyan were left in search of their first victory, having been held 0-0 by FC Goa on Matchday One. Persepolis conceded against the run of play in the 19th minute when Naif Al Hadhrami rose highest to head home Abdelaziz Hatim’s free-kick into the bottom right of the net.
An undaunted Persepolis pushed for the equaliser but Al Rayyan goalkeeper Younis was at the top of his game, first saving Mahdi Torabi’s effort from inside the area on 24 minutes and then denying Moghanlou’s drive in the 39th minute. Persepolis started the second half with heightened intensity and their determination paid off two minutes into the restart when Kamal Kamyabinia headed home the equaliser off Torabi’s corner.
Al Rayyan found themselves 2-1 down two minutes later as Siamak Nemati weaved his way down the right flank before finding Moghanlou, who volleyed past Younis. Moghanlou scored his second in the 57th minute, finding space inside the six yard box to collect Omid Alishah’s pass before slamming the ball into an unguarded goalmouth.
Elsewhere, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr were in fine form as they secured a 3-1 win over Al Sadd SC in Group D.
Both sides went into the tie needing the three points after having opened their campaigns with draws, with Al Sadd needing a last gasp equaliser against Islamic Republic of Iran's Foolad Khouzestan FC while Al Nassr couldn't find a way past the resolute defence of Jordan's Al Wehdat.
The win boosts 2020 AFC Champions League semi-finalists Al Nassr's hopes of advancing to the Round of 16 while Al Sadd have it all to do if they are to salvage their campaign.
Al Nassr's response was almost immediate as a speedy exchange of passes saw Nordin Amrabat releasing the ball to Sami Al Najei on the right. Najei's cross hit Al Sadd captain Abdelkarim Hassan on the left hand, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot, with 2020 AFC Champions League topscorer Abderazzak Hamdallah rifling the ball home in the 37th minute to give Al Nassr the lead going into the break.
Al Sadd started the second half on the front foot and their perseverance was rewarded in the 59th minute when Santi Cazorla was brought down by Ali Al Hassan five yards outside the box. The Spaniard lined up for the freekick and his sublime effort sailed over the Al Nassr wall, dipped and settled in the net past the despairing Brad Jones in goal.
Al Nassr, however, upped their tempo and Hamdallah should have done better with his header in the 77th minute but the Saudi Arabian side were not to be denied two minutes later with Abdulmajeed Al Sulayhim finishing a fine team by slotting the ball past Meshaal Barsham.
There was to be a third as Khalid Al Ghannam finished a counter-attack in the fourth minute of added time to complete an emphatic win for Al Nassr.
