AFC Champions League Elite
Tractor fought back to draw level twice with Masoud Zaerkazemayn netting in the ninth minute of added time to salvage a point for the Islamic Republic of Iran side, with Nekounam acknowledging the reaction shown by his team.
#ACLElite | Tractor FC (IRN) 2-2 PFC Neftchi (UZB)
“We didn’t have a good start to the match, so we quickly changed our system and managed to take control of the game,” said Nekounam. “We finished the first half in a good position, and we knew that our team would definitely improve in the second half and we did.
“Unfortunately, just as we were playing better, we conceded a rather bizarre goal. It was really difficult for us and for the team to deal with. We had been playing well, but unfortunately, we conceded. Shortly afterwards, we also lost one of our players to a sending-off.
“Nevertheless, both the players and I believed that we could achieve a positive result today. We came back into the game twice, despite playing with 10 men under difficult circumstances. It was a tough match, and we had fallen behind, but we managed to fight our way back.”
“Unfortunately, just as we were playing better, we conceded a rather bizarre goal. It was really difficult for us and for the team to deal with. We had been playing well, but unfortunately, we conceded. Shortly afterwards, we also lost one of our players to a sending-off.
“Nevertheless, both the players and I believed that we could achieve a positive result today. We came back into the game twice, despite playing with 10 men under difficult circumstances. It was a tough match, and we had fallen behind, but we managed to fight our way back.”
Frustration was visible from Ismoilov after seeing his team fail to protect the leads that Stipe Perica and Vladimir Jovovic had given them as the Uzbekistan side let slip the opportunity to claim a second win.
“It was very harsh at the end of the day,” said Ismoilov. “It’s the second time we didn’t get the result we wanted because of last minute mistakes. We lost two points in this game.
“Of course I’m not satisfied with the result because we were controlling the game and we conceded two simple goals. The players gave everything but at the end of the day, we lost the points.”
“It was very harsh at the end of the day,” said Ismoilov. “It’s the second time we didn’t get the result we wanted because of last minute mistakes. We lost two points in this game.
“Of course I’m not satisfied with the result because we were controlling the game and we conceded two simple goals. The players gave everything but at the end of the day, we lost the points.”
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