Pirouzi secure AFC Champions League place

Dubai: Pirouzi of Iran scripted a fighting 3-1 comeback victory against Al Shabab in Group D and booked their rightful place in the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League here on Tuesday.

Played before more than 5,000 adoring fans, the Iranians negated Eisa Mohammad’s 13th minute strike through an Eamon Zayed header two minutes from half-time, added a second from a well-timed free kick from Mehrdad Pooladi in the 53rd minute and then one last one in the 90th to collect full points in this last Group D match.

The three points earned were enough for the Iranian side to advance to the knockout stages, but the final standings in Group D were to be known later last night with Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia hosting Qatar’s Al Gharafa.

Pirouzi coach Mustafa Denizli looked out of sorts on the sidelines when Eisa Mohammad struck a pile driver free kick from at least 40 yards in the eighth minute of play to give the home side an unlikely lead.

But the visitors laboured on in search of a goal coming close on several occasions against a team they had hammered 6-1 in Tehran in March.

The first was in the 13th minute when Ali Karimi relayed to Gholam Reza Rezaei whose quick cross was guided way off the target by Eamon Zayed with only goalkeeper Esmail Rabea at his mercy.

In the 26th minute, Javad Kazemian was put through by Karimi on the left, but the striker entangled himself and fell flat as he advanced in towards goal from an acute angle.

And then in the 32nd minute, the Al Shabab goalkeeper saved from point blank range off Rezaei. The Iranians finally got the equalizer in the 43rd minute when an unmarked Eamon Zayed met a strong cross from the right from Karimi.

Pirouzi started the second half on a fast pace in search of a second goal. They kept prodding at the home team defence, who managed to hold them at bay till that fine free kick conversion in the 53rd minute from Pooladi.

Content with that goal, Pirouzi stayed content defending, and then got one more in the final minute when substitute Hussain Badamaki slotted home past Esmail Rabea.

Al Shabab finished at the bottom of Group D with just two points to their name, leaving the other three teams to battle for the two qualifying spots. Pirouzi advance with eleven points, while Al Hilal (nine points) and Al Gharafa (eight points) were to decide on the second spot in Saudi Arabia later last night.

Result: Pirouzi, Iran bt Al Shabab, Dubai 3-1.