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SOCCER NEWS - Iranians clinch Asian Championship semifinal place
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MrMojoMan
Feb 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM2/28/99
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By Michael Church
AL AIN, United Arab Emirates, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Iranian
champions Esteghlal clinched a place in the semifinals of the
Asian Club Championship after a keenly fought 1-0 win over hosts
Al Ain on Saturday.
Substitute Alireza Akbarpour struck in the 70th minute, five
minutes after going on, scoring from a Mohammad Navazi corner to
ensure Esteghlal's place in the last four.
China's Dalian Wanda and Jubilo Iwata from Japan have
already qualified from the eastern group.
Al Ain still have a chance of gaining the group's other
semifinal slot when they meet Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal
in the final round of matches on Monday.
Esteghlal head the western group with six points while Al
Hilal and Al Ain each have three points.
Al Hilal survived an early scare to keep alive their
championship hopes with a 4-2 win over Kopetdag of Turkmenistan
after losing their opening match to Esteghlal.
Kopetdag, who lost their opening tie 6-1 to Al Ain, took the
lead after just 14 minutes when Azat Kuldjaqazov struck from
just inside the penalty area.
But Al Hilal's Zambian international defender Elijah Litana
equalised with a header three minutes later to start Al Hilal's
revival. Nawaf Al Temayat then put the Saudi team ahead in the
21st minute, placing the ball past Alexander Korobo after
dancing his way through the Kopetdag defence.
Kopetdag were back on level terms just after the half-hour
when striker Vladimir Bairimov nodded the ball home.
Al Hilal regained the lead four minutes from halftime
through a right-footed volley from Abdullah Al Dossary and Sami
Al Jaber sealed victory from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute
after fellow international Yousef Al Thuniyan had been brought
down.
AL AIN, United Arab Emirates, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Iranian
champions Esteghlal clinched a place in the semifinals of the
Asian Club Championship after a keenly fought 1-0 win over hosts
Al Ain on Saturday.
Substitute Alireza Akbarpour struck in the 70th minute, five
minutes after going on, scoring from a Mohammad Navazi corner to
ensure Esteghlal's place in the last four.
China's Dalian Wanda and Jubilo Iwata from Japan have
already qualified from the eastern group.
Al Ain still have a chance of gaining the group's other
semifinal slot when they meet Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal
in the final round of matches on Monday.
Esteghlal head the western group with six points while Al
Hilal and Al Ain each have three points.
Al Hilal survived an early scare to keep alive their
championship hopes with a 4-2 win over Kopetdag of Turkmenistan
after losing their opening match to Esteghlal.
Kopetdag, who lost their opening tie 6-1 to Al Ain, took the
lead after just 14 minutes when Azat Kuldjaqazov struck from
just inside the penalty area.
But Al Hilal's Zambian international defender Elijah Litana
equalised with a header three minutes later to start Al Hilal's
revival. Nawaf Al Temayat then put the Saudi team ahead in the
21st minute, placing the ball past Alexander Korobo after
dancing his way through the Kopetdag defence.
Kopetdag were back on level terms just after the half-hour
when striker Vladimir Bairimov nodded the ball home.
Al Hilal regained the lead four minutes from halftime
through a right-footed volley from Abdullah Al Dossary and Sami
Al Jaber sealed victory from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute
after fellow international Yousef Al Thuniyan had been brought
down.
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