2021 ACL Group C: Esteghlal Advances to Round of 16
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Esteghlal football team from Iran booked its place in Round of 16 of the 2021 AFC Champions League (ACL) Friday night.
Cheick Diabate’s penalty in the 14th minute ensured a 1-0 win for the Blues against Iraq's Al-Shorta on Matchday Six of Group C.
The Malian forward could make it 2-0 six minutes later from the spot but failed to convert his penalty.
Esteghlal went into the game looking for a win to confirm its place in the Round of 16 and duly delivered against its Iraqi opponent whose elimination had already been confirmed, although it was far from straightforward for the Iran Pro League side.
Al-Shorta began the second half with an urgency that saw them create a few chances, the biggest of which fell to 21-year-old forward Mohammed Dawood whose low shot was narrowly wide of the mark.
Mehdi Ghaedi spurned a golden chance at doubling his side’s lead after combining brilliantly with Hrvoje Milic on the left flank, and under minimal challenge, he cut inside the Al-Shorta area and blasted a shot at the goal that Basil stopped.
Al-Duhail of Qatar and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw in Group C and both teams failed to qualify for the round of 16.
