Al Jazira comeback upsets Persepolis in 2018 AFC Champions League
Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates has chalked up a last-gasp win against Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League professional soccer club Persepolis in the 2018 AFC Champions League Round of 16.
The Emirati soccer players snatched an important last-minute goal to edge out the visitors in a fixture at the multi-purpose Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in the Emirati capital city of Abu Dhabi on Monday evening.
Persepolis footballers opened the match with vim and vigor, and looked to dominate from the start.
Al Jazira players, however, managed to keep them under control for most of the first half, until Persepolis forward Ali Alipour took up a tremendous opportunity in the 42nd minute and broke the hosts' resilience.
He headed in Vahid Amiri’s cross into the top right corner to put Persepolis 1-0 in front.
After the break, Al Jazira manager Henk ten Cate started the second half by replacing midfielder Yaqoub al-Hosani with forward Ahmed al-Hashmi.
Hashmi then grasped a favorable chance and supplied a pass to teammate Ali Mabkhout, who dribbled through the defense and struck a powerful shot that hit the back of the net in the 52nd minute.
The hosts maintained their attacking composure and extended their lead through Brazilian football player Romário Ricardo Silva, commonly known as Romarinho, who picked up Mabkhout’s pass and quickly advanced into the area before scoring a goal in the 77th minute.
Persepolis retaliated quickly and Nigerian footballer Godwin Mensha netted the equalizer from the penalty spot six minutes from time.
Just as the Iranians thought they had come back from Abu Dhabi with a 2-2 draw, Al Jazira defender Khalifa Mubarak directed his header from Mbark Boussoufa's free-kick into the back of the net in the sixth minute of the injury time.
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