Iran’s Persepolis Eliminated from 2019 AFC Champions League
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - 2018 runner-up Persepolis’ hopes of making it out of the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2019 are over after it lost to Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan 1-0 in Group D on Monday.
A late strike from substitute Igor Sergeev earned Pakhtakor a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Persepolis.
The 2018 finalist came into the match needing a victory to boost its hopes of reaching the Round of 16, instead Persepolis was eliminated from the Continental tournament.
Pakhtakor started on the offensive, and Jaloliddin Masharipov’s free-kick from the left wing sailed past all heads before bouncing off the bottom of the far upright and out for a goal kick.
Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was first tested in the 19th minute as Farrukh Sayfiev’s cross from the left was volleyed by Javokhir Sidikov, but the Iranian goalkeeper stood tall to make the save.
Persepolis was restricted to only a couple of shy chances throughout. Kamal Kamyabinia headed wide at the half-hour mark and Siamak Nemati tried his luck on the volley but missed the target before the break.
The result takes Pakhtakor’s tally to eight points, meanwhile, Persepolis remains rooted to the foot of Group D with four points.
The result means that Persepolis is out of the ACL 2019 with one round left to play.
