AFC Chmapions League Elite:
Ezzatollahi on target to help Shabab Al Ahli edge Al Ittihad
Iranian midfielder Saeid Ezzatollahi scored a first-half winner as Emirati top-flight champion Shabab Al Ahli walked away with a massive 1-0 away victory over Saudi Pro League champion Al Ittihad at the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday.
Ezzatolahi rose highest to nod home Cartabia’s corner with five minutes before halftime, as the visitors moved up to fifth in the West Zone table with four points from two points, having settled for a 1-1 draw against Iranian champion Tractor in their opener in Dubai.
Ezzatollahi’s international teammate Sardar Azmoun, who has just returned from a sidelining injury, started the game on the bench before being introduced as second-half substitute.
The defeat added to misery for the star-studded Al Ittihad, which got off to a losing start in the Asian elite clubs’ competition, suffering a 2-1 defeat against another Emirati club Al Wahda two weeks ago.
“I am proud of the players’ performance. The team spirit that has been building since last season was evident. The most important thing was the players’ understanding of the technical strategy,” the visiting head coach Paulo Sousa said after the game.
“This was an extraordinary and unusual day, a match between two league champions, so we are proud of the team,” added the Portuguese.
“I am proud that we are competing strongly in Asia and proud of the mentality of the players.
“We completely controlled the first half but I have to admit that in the second half, we declined physically, which allowed Al Ittihad to advance. We could have, however, still doubled the score but we wasted many opportunities.”
Shabab Al Ahli will next host PFC Nasaf on October 21 while Al Ittihad will aim to turn its fortunes around when it travels to face Iraq’s Al Shorta.