AFC Champions League Elite
Building on their 5-0 success against United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC on Matchday Three, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor moved onto eight points with Al Shorta of Iraq only having a draw to show from their four matches.
It was a lively start to the match with both sides going on the attack, Tomislav Strkalj with a near post flick that missed that target before Leonel Ateba’s deflected strike at the other end had Alireza Beiranvand tracking back nervously to see it sail just over the bar.
Tractor, however, looked the more dangerous and went ahead in the 26th minute following a superb passage of one-touch football between Tibor Halillovic and Strkalj to send Mahdi Torabi through to poke home the opener past Ahmed Basil.
Tractor, however, looked the more dangerous and went ahead in the 26th minute following a superb passage of one-touch football between Tibor Halillovic and Strkalj to send Mahdi Torabi through to poke home the opener past Ahmed Basil.
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The home side then had the net bulging again four minutes later from a Mahdi Hazhemnezhad strike but it was ruled out for offside.
Al Shorta were on top in the latter part of the first half, forcing Beiranvand to make a great one-handed save to deny Mustafa Saadoon from close range before the experienced custodian dived to his right to catch Dominique Mendy’s low strike from range.
Al Shorta were on top in the latter part of the first half, forcing Beiranvand to make a great one-handed save to deny Mustafa Saadoon from close range before the experienced custodian dived to his right to catch Dominique Mendy’s low strike from range.
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Beiranvand was called into action again after the interval, saving from a Mahmoud Almawas free-kick in the 54th minute before showing good reflexes to catch Aween’s powerful header from Hussein Ali’s cross seven minutes later.
Tractor head coach Dragan Skocic tried to relieve the pressure on his defence by sending on Regi Lushkja and Damagoj Drodzek to freshen up his attack but the changes did little to alter the pattern of play.
Tractor head coach Dragan Skocic tried to relieve the pressure on his defence by sending on Regi Lushkja and Damagoj Drodzek to freshen up his attack but the changes did little to alter the pattern of play.
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Khalilzadeh put his body on the line in the 79th minute to block Mohammed Dawood’s strike before Beiranvand watched in relief as Ameer Sabah’s volley from a long distance only just missed the top corner as Tractor held on for the win.
Tractor will next face Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf on November 24 while Al Shorta travel to play Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia a day later.
Tractor will next face Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf on November 24 while Al Shorta travel to play Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia a day later.
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