Persepolis fails to advance to AFC Champions League final
Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League professional soccer club Persepolis has failed to book a spot in the 2017 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League final showdown after being held to a draw by Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday evening, the Iranian soccer players, who had suffered a 0-4 loss from the Riyadh-based team at the end of a much-awaited clash in the first leg of the tournament semi-final on September 26, had to settle for a 2-2 draw and their dream to progress and win the first continental title was shattered.
Nigerian forward Godwin Mensha gave Persepolis the lead in the 16th minute with a header, after teammate Vahid Amiri dispossessed Al Hilal’s Mohamed al-Burayk on the flank and crossed for him.
In the 30th minute, Omani referee Ahmed Abu Bakar Said al-Kaf made an awful mistake by awarding a penalty to Al Hilal.
TV replays, however, showed that Saudi Arabian player Burayk had been brought down by Persepolis defender Mohammad Ansari outside the penalty area.
Syrian footballer Omar Maher Kharbin calmly chipped the ball past Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Menshah added his second in the 61st minute after he beat Al-Hilal defender Abdullah al-Hafith to Ali Alipour’s back pass and fired into the bottom corner.
Kharbin was on target once again in the 76th minute and brought Al-Hilal level.
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