AFC Champions League Two:
Esteghlal coach Sa Pinto on the brink after last-16 exit
Esteghlal’s Portuguese head coach, Ricardo Sa Pinto, is facing an uncertain future after his side was dramatically eliminated from the AFC Champions League Two by Jordan’s Al Hussein.
The Jordanian Pro League champions mounted a late comeback at the Amman International Stadium, securing a 3-2 victory on the night and a 4-2 aggregate win to book their place in the quarterfinals of Asia’s second-tier club competition.
Needing to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg, Esteghlal began brightly, applying early pressure. Saed Al Rosan was forced to clear a dangerous cross from Saleh Hardani, and their aggressive start paid off in the fourth minute when they were awarded a penalty.
Pedro Henrique brought down Mohammadhossein Eslami inside the box, and after a VAR review, Jasir Asani stepped up to convert the spot-kick and give the visitors the lead.
Al Hussein struggled to break down a resolute Esteghlal defense in the first half but came close in the 38th minute when Mahmoud Al Mardi drilled a shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.
The home side’s pressure finally told two minutes later. Ali Hajabi rose highest to power home a header from Al Mardi’s corner, leveling the night and putting Al Hussein ahead on aggregate heading into the interval.
Esteghlal hit back just four minutes after the restart. Asani grabbed his second of the game, pouncing on a loose ball and curling a precise effort past goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila to restore his team’s advantage on the night.
The Iranian side pushed for a third goal that would have swung the tie back in their favor. In the 61st minute, Eslami’s teasing cross from a set-piece found Rouzbeh Cheshmi, but his effort was straight at Abulaila.
The introduction of substitutes Obieda Al Namarnah and Yousef Abu Al Jazar proved decisive for Al Hussein. With 14 minutes remaining, Esteghlal’s goalkeeper spilled a cross from Yousef Abu Jalboush, and Abu Al Jazar reacted quickest to turn in Aref Al Haj’s miscued shot.
Despite a late surge from Esteghlal, their hopes were extinguished in the fifth minute of added time when Obieda Al Namarnah scored a third for the hosts to seal the comeback and a place in the last eight.
The defeat has ignited intense speculation in the Iranian media regarding Sa Pinto’s future. With the team struggling for consistency this season, several names, including former coaches Javad Nekounam and Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, have already been touted as potential replacements.
Esteghlal will still have all to play on the domestic front, sitting third in the Persian Gulf Pro League table with 35 points from 20 games – one point behind leaders Golgohar Sirjan with a game in hand and trailing Tractor on goal difference.
The Capital Blues are also in contention with a second successive Iranian Hazfi Cup trophy and will face Khaybar in the quarterfinals.