AFC Champions League Elite
Both sides dramatically scored in second-half added time as Islamic Republic of Iran’s Tractor earned the second point of their campaign with Uzbekistan’s Neftchi two ahead.
Looking to bounce back from last week’s 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad Club, Neftchi gave Tractor goalkeeper Parsa Jafari a taste of what he could expect as early as the fifth minute.
Left-back Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldoshev surged forward and pumped in a cross which was met by Asilbek Jumaev but Jafari pulled off a big save before getting up again to deny Markus Forss on the follow-up.
With Tractor having little presence in the opposition half, Neftchi kept pounding on the door but without getting their rewards.
Jurani Ferreira and Alisher Odilov sent their attempts wide of the target before Yan Sasse made a forceful run through the middle and fired a stinging shot from the edge of the box, which Jafari got a strong hand to.
MD4: Tractor FC (IRN) v PFC Neftchi (UZB)
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Tractor were finally able to test Botirali Ergashev four minutes into the second half, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh’s long range strike packed a powerful punch but the Neftchi keeper had read the intention.
Neftchi found the breakthrough their endeavours deserved in the 55th minute, Abrorbek Ismoilov getting to Michel’s chip ahead of defender Shojae Khalilzadeh before squaring for Stipe Perica - who had only just came on - to tap home from close range.
More trouble found its way to Tractor six minutes later when Farshad Faraji was shown a straight red for a high foot challenge which hit Bojan Ciger in the face.
Neftchi went looking for a second goal to kill off the contest but Perica’s weak hit was easily saved before Sasse drew a superb finger tip save from Jafari.
Those misses proved costly when Hosseinzadeh broke away from two markers in the 82nd minute then laid the ball off for Tomislav Strkalj to dink over Ergashev for the equaliser.
Neftchi retook the lead in the fourth minute of added time through a Vladimir Jovovic screamer from range but Tractor refused to concede defeat, with Masoud Zaerkazemayn equalising five minutes later to force a dramatic end to the absorbing contest.
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