AFC Women’s Champions League:
Iran’s Khatoon keen to bounce back against Kaya FC
Iran’s Bam Khatoon will be looking to build on an impressive second-half performance in the 2-1 defeat against Melbourne City FC when taking on Filipino club Kaya FC in Group B of the AFC Women’s Champions League in Pathum Thani, Thailand, today.
Rhianna Pollicina and Marina Speckmaier scored a couple of late first-half goals for the Australian side on Sunday but a much-improved display after the break saw Khatoon find the net through Mona Hamoudi, whose in-swinging corner kick went straight past Melbourne keeper Malena Garcia with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Hamoudi’s strike showed Marziyeh Jafari’s side is capable of finding the back of the net against even the toughest of defenses and the Iranian coach will surely adopt a more aggressive approach against Kaya.
Kaya, meanwhile, played to a goalless draw against the group host College of Asian Scholars – a result that left Khatoon bottom of the table, although even a draw today will see the Iranian side have something to play for against the Thai champion on the final day of the group stage.
Kaya head coach Let Dimzon admitted after the first-day stalemate that improvements are needed in the finishing department.
The top two in each of the three groups will be joined by the best two third-place teams in the last-eight round, which will be played in a single-leg knockout format.