“With the successful conclusion of the AFC Champions League 2020 (West) in Qatar recently, as well as the upcoming preparations to host the East region matches next month, the AFC noted that the QFA met all the necessary hosting capability and capacity and medical infrastructure to host the Final of Asia’s premier club competition,” added the AFC.

This is while Iranian fans were expecting the holding of the match in Tehran as Persepolis is one side of the final and the final of 2019 edition had been staged in the East Zone.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly made the decision on the venue for this year’s Final more complex particularly in these uncertain times of travel and health restrictions,” AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said.

“In addition to the numerous restrictions, the AFC also wanted to protect the important principle of sporting fair play. This will be, unlike previous years, a one-off final and we therefore needed to ensure that there was no unfair advantage to one team or the other.”

“The safety and wellbeing of all participating clubs as well as the protection of all stakeholders has been crucial to the AFC so we must thank the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Local Authorities and Ministries for putting in place the necessary health measures and effective medical protocols,” he said, adding, “The successful staging of the AFC Champions League (West) is testament to the capability of the QFA and the Qatar Government and we now look forward to building on the spirit of collaboration as we prepare to resume the captivating action from the East Group Stage to the Final.”

Additionally, the AFC also had to consider the ability of the host to deliver such requirements among others, the Video Assistant Referee technical arrangements, medical requirements and commercial obligations.

QFA Secretary General Mansoor Mohammed Al-Ansari, said: “Given the success of hosting the centralised West region matches in close collaboration with the AFC, and the preparation for the centralised East matches next month, we are confident that we will be able to deliver an outstanding AFC Champions League Final.”

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A second victory over the Saudi Arabian club in three days saw the Iranian Reds move atop the Group C of the competition.

“I’m so grateful to my players as they played with all their hearts,” said Persepolis manager Yahya Golmohammadi, adding, “We did a good job in the attacking phase and could have scored more goals on the counterattacks.”

The Iranian – whose side will take on Qatari side Al Duhail on Monday before playing the UAE’s Sharjah on the final day of the group stage – urged his side to “stay focused on the remaining two matches as we’re not still guaranteed progress [to the last-16 round].”

Earlier in the day, Al Duhail was stunned 4-2 against Sharjah to sit third in the group – level on points with Al Taawoun – trailing Persepolis by one point, while the Emirati side, reaching the four-point mark, is now well in contention with a place in the knockouts.

Golmohammadi made two changes to the starting eleven that beat the Saudi club by a goal in the mid-week as veteran skipper Seyyed Jalal Hosseini was picked over Hossein Kanaanizadegan in defense, while holding midfielder Kamal Kamyabinia replaced Ahmad Nourollahi.

The Persian Gulf Pro League champion came closest to break the deadlock in the closing stages of the first half when Issa Alekasir’s curling strike from outside the box hit the post.

The 30-year-old striker again missed a chance to score his first goal for the club two minutes after the interval, failing to make a touch on Vahid Amiri’s fine cross, before being brought down by center-back Iago Santos in the box.

The Iraqi referee pointed to the spot as Resan sent Brazilian keeper Cassio the wrong way for the Iranian side’s opener.

Resan could have got his second of the night with 20 minutes left on the clock but saw his low effort from the edge of the box saved by the keeper’s fingertips before coming off the post.

Persepolis – which was five points off the top before the competition resumption – produced a firm defensive performance in the latter stages of the match and a held on for a crucial victory.

Fading hopes

Meanwhile, Sepahan – which got off to flying start in the competition with a massive 4-0 victory over Al Ain in February – was dealt a huge blow to its pursuit of a top-two finish in Group D with a second consecutive 2-0 defeat at the hands of Saudi club Al Nassr.

Abdullah Madu gave Al Nassr the lead in the 32nd minute before Abderazak Hamdallah doubled the score with four minutes to go in the first half.

Friday’s win kept Al Nassr on top of the group with 10 points while Qatari giant Al Sadd thrashed Al Ain 4-0 to stay in the second place with eight points – widening the gap over Sepahan to five with two games to spare.

Sepahan will square off against the Qatari club on Monday knowing that any result other than victory will see the Isfahan-based club’s campaign come to an early end.

Blues on the verge

A victory in Sunday’s encounter against Iraqi side Al Shorta will secure a place in the knockout round for caretaker manager Majid Namjou Motlaq’s Esteghlal.

The Tehran-based Blues’ first two outings after the resumption – a double header against Al Wahda – was called off by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after the Emirati side was forced to pull out of the competitions due to the diagnosis of several players with COVID-19.

Al Shorta was beaten 1-0 by Al Ahli last Monday but claimed a shocking 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture to move up to second spot in Group A.

Esteghal – sitting third with one point – could move above the Iraqi side with a better head-to-head result, having settled for a 1-1 draw against Al Shorta on Matchday One.

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Persepolis, which celebrated a fourth consecutive Persian Gulf Pro League title in August, will take on Group C leader Al Taawoun of Saudi Arabia, knowing that any result other than a victory will compromise Reds’ chances of booking a place in the knockout phase.

A first day defeat at Al Duhail (2-0) and a 2-2 draw against Sharja have left Yahya Golmohammadi’s men trailing the Saudi side and Al Duhail by five and two points respectively.

Golmohammadi will hope new signings Ehsan Pahlevan and Issa Alekasir will fill the void in the frontline after the club parted ways with last season’s top scorers Ali Alipour and Mehdi Torabi.

Al Taawoun, meanwhile, survived a domestic scare, managing to avoid relegation on the final day of the newly-finished Saudi Pro League season.

Navidkia debut

Sepahan will embark on a new era under manager Moharam Navidkia – who has only been in charge of the club for a week – against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr.

The Isfahan-based side got off to a flying start in Group D, thrashing Emirati club Al Ain 4-0, before suffering a 3-0 defeat against Xavi’s Al Sadd of Qatar.

Al Nassr stands second in the group with four points, only behind Al Sadd on an inferior goal difference, with Sepahan at third place.

Al Nassr lost its domestic title to rival Al Hilal last Wednesday, settling for the runner-up spot.

Wahda withdrawal

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) COVID-19 Sub-Committee decided that the UAE’s Al Wahda shall be considered to have withdrawn from the competition, having failed to arrive in Doha ahead of their remaining Group A matches.

The Emirati side had reported last week that several of its players have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Al Wahda was to play a double header against Iran’s Esteghlal today and Thursday.

The committee said that the circumstances surrounding the club’s failure to arrive “constituted an event of force majeure” and that the matches played by Al Wahda in the competition shall be considered “null and void”.

No points or goals from the previous matches involving Al Wahda will be considered in determining the final group standing, the AFC added.

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Aref Aqasi scored the all-important winner in the seventh minute as the southern Iranian club – fifth in the table prior to the game – overtook Tractor and Sepahan – which was held to a 1-1 draw at Paykan – for the final berth in the Asian elite club competition.

Tractor, however, has a second chance of securing a place in the Champions League through Hazfi Cup, where the Tabriz-based side takes on Naft Masjed Soleyman in the semifinals on Tuesday, with archrivals Persepolis and Esteghlal playing the other last-four tie.

Should either one of Persepolis, Esteghlal, or Tractor win the cup, Saket Elhami’s side will be handed an ACL place.

Meanwhile, a 1-0 defeat against Naft Masjed Soleyman meant that Pars Jonoubi Jam joined other Bushehr-based club Shahin Shahrdari in relegation to the Iranian football second tier.

Omid Singh scored in the 88th-minute to dash former club’s slight hope of survival.

The result also secured Paykan and Saipa – which both failed to win on the final day – a place in next season’s top flight.

Ebrahim Sadeqi’s Saipa was beaten 3-0 at the hands of champion Persepolis, courtesy of goals by Vahid Amiri, Christian Osaguona, and Ali Alipour.

The victory meant that Yahya Golmohammadi’s men, in a season that they clinched a record-fourth consecutive title, also set a new record for most wins in a season (21).

The Reds also equaled the highest points-tally of a single campaign (67), a figure which only Sepahan had reached in the 18-team 2011-12 season.

Elsewhere, Cheick Diabaté put a fitting end to his impressive debut season by scoring a brace in Esteghlal’s 4-1 win at Shahin, helping Farhad Majidi’s Blues to a runner-up finish.

Malian striker scored 15 goals in a stellar campaign for the Golden Boot Award – finishing two goals clear of Paykan’s Shahryar Moghanlou.

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