AFC Champions League:
Nassaji outclassed by Al Hilal; Persepolis shows character against Al Duhail
Iranian minnow club Nassaji Mazandaran was given a reality check by Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League group stage, falling to a 3-0 home defeat against the Saudi giant on matchday two in Group D on Tuesday.
The result came a day after Persian Gulf Pro League champion Persepolis bounced back from a first-day loss in Group E to walk away with a massive 1-0 victory at Al Duhail.
Stars make the difference
Saudi clubs stole the global headlines in the summer transfer window by luring some top-notch players in the European leagues to the country’s top-flight, and it was the different class offered by Al Hilal’s international stars that inspired the Riyadh-based side to a commanding win at the Azadi Stadium.
Ex-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home from close range 18 minutes into the game and Brazilian magic man Neymar summed up his man-of-the-match performance with a goal in the second half before his corner-kick led to Saleh al-Shehri adding a third in the stoppage time.
“We put in all our efforts into the game but some of our players are playing in the competition for the first time and today you could easily see what kind of contribution a $200m player can make,” Nassaji keeper Rashid Mazaheri said after the game.
With Al Hilal the ultimate favorite to win the group, it already looks like a battle between the other three teams for a runner-up finish and a possible place in the knockout phase.
Nassaji is third in the group – thanks to a first-day 2-0 win at Mumbai City – trailing Al Hilal and Navbahor, who shared the points in Riyadh two weeks ago, by a single point.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Navbahor defeated the Indian side 3-0 at home.
Reds recover
Stepping into Monday’s game in Doha, Persepolis knew a second successive defeat would have left the Reds’ chances of progress in the balance.
When the Tehran giant was beaten 2-0 by Al Nassr at home a fortnight ago, Yahya Golmohammadi’s side was thoroughly criticized for being overwhelmed by the opponent’s big names in Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, and Marcelo Brozović.
The Iranian domestic double champion was a shadow of itself on the day, and a second-half red card for Milad Sarlak, coupled with Mahdi Torabi’s early injury, added to the Reds misery.
However, despite missing the key trio in Sarlak, Torabi, and Vahid Amiri, the Tehran Reds rose up to the occasion, producing one of their finest performances in recent months to beat the Qatari champion and revive hopes of progress.
Making only a third start since March, Omid Alishah seized the opportunity in style as his second-half strike led Persepolis to the victory, though the margin would have been more superior had the Reds been more clinical in the opposition box.
"I enjoyed the win as we showed we are a good team. We expected a very tough match but we were able to hold our own," said the Iran international keeper Alireza Beiranvand after the match.
"We are in one of the most difficult groups but we asserted our quality against a good Al Duhail side. I hope we can continue with this form domestically as well as on the continental front."
Al Nassr, meanwhile, came from behind for a 3-1 home win against Istiklol to maintain its perfect record, with Persepolis in second.
Next for Persepolis is a double header against Istiklol.