Asian Club Champions League 2016- Sepahan, Zob Ahan, Tractor, Results, Updates

Babr

Babr

Banned
#1
Nov 24, 2002
27,860
1,466
#1

Date
2016-02-23
Time:
06:15 AM, LA
09:15 AM, Toronto, NY
15:15 PM, Paris, Munich
14:15 PM, London
Venue:
Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

AFC – DOHA, Iran’s Zob Ahan will be looking to break a run of four successive draws when they commence their 2016 AFC Champions League Group B campaign on Tuesday against Qatar Stars League champions Lekhwiya.
Four points from their last four games has seen Yahya Golmohammadi’s side drop to fourth in the Iranian league and sit five points adrift of leaders Esteghlal, and the former Iran international concedes his team face another tough task against the Qatari side.
“The match will be very difficult for us. Lekhwiya are a well known team in Qatar and they also have good experience in the competition because they have always been present in recent years,” said Golmohammadi (pictured), who represented his nation at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.
“The two sides are going through similar conditions locally and they will be looking to give their best in the AFC Champions League. I have a lot of confidence in my players and I hope that we will have a good start in the competition.”
Zob Ahan reached the final of the AFC Champions League in 2010, when they lost out to Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa, and are returning to the competition for the first time since 2011, when they lost out in the quarter-finals.
Lekhwiya, meanwhile, go into the game buoyed by a 3-0 win over El Jaish in the Qatar Stars League, a result that moved Djamal Belmadi’s side into second place, well adrift of runaway leaders Al Rayyan.
The Qatari side reached the quarter-finals of last year’s AFC Champions League – the second time in three seasons the club has advanced to the last eight – and former Qatar national team coach Belmadi has called on his players to focus on the task that lies ahead against Zob Ahan.

“We had good preparations for this match after the game against El Jaish in the local league, which was a good win for us,” said the France-born former Algeria international.
“We must play with a lot of concentration in this match in order to achieve a good result.
“Our main focus at the moment is on the AFC Champions League and the match against Zob Ahan in particular. We respect our opponents and the match will be very tough and will require a lot of physical effort from our players.”
 

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Babr

Babr

Banned
#2
Nov 24, 2002
27,860
1,466
#2
Date
2016-02-23
Time:
06:00 AM, LA
09:00 AM, Toronto, NY
15:00 PM, Paris, Munich
14:00 PM, London
Venue:
Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan


AFC – ISFAHAN, Sepahan coach Igor Stimac will be looking for his team to record their first win in over three months when they start their 2016 AFC Champions League campaign against Al Nasr from the United Arab Emirates in Group A of the continental club championship on Tuesday.
The Isfahan-based club, who reached the final of the 2007 AFC Champions League, are on a dismal run that has seen them fail to pick up three points in the domestic league since November 20, leaving the Croatian’s position under serious threat.
But despite speculation over his status at the helm of the team, former Croatia national team manager Stimac (pictured) is focused on starting with a win over the club from the United Arab Emirates.
“That is possible but for now there is no reason to think about that,” said Stimac when asked about the possibility of being removed from his position after the game.
“The players have full confidence in me and the problems in our club should be resolved internally. Currently the only way forward is carrying on with the same quality and hoping for a better future.”
Sepahan are currently 11th in the Iranian league and have lost their last three games in a row and drawn the previous five while Al Nasr come into the meeting off the back of a 1-1 draw in their domestic competition against Dibba Al Fujairah.
“This is a big match,” said Stimac. “We want to get off to a good start in the AFC Champions League. We trained well in recent days and we are in good condition.
“Tomorrow’s match is more than a typical game. The match is about our motivation, honour, and team pride. We are facing problems but we’ve a great chance of winning tomorrow’s match.
“We will play against a team which has a good coach and according to our analysis is a coherent team in which each player knows his task well.”
Al Nasr, who return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012, are third in the UAE league, although well adrift of title-chasing duo Al Ahli and Al Ain.
Coach Ivan Jovanovic is targeting a win against the Iranians, even if the Serbian admitted to having limited information on his opponents.
“I’m very happy that we will compete in one of the best Asian tournaments,” he said. “We have been drawn against great teams and our goal is to qualify from this group.
“Sepahan is a very good team and we know that tomorrow we’ll have a tough match. The four foreign players in our team are the dynamic body of the team. All my players are ready to compete in this tournament. They have maintained their physical fitness to be in good condition against Sepahan and stage a good game.
“We know all of our rivals but for this game we have a minimum knowledge of Sepahan.”
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Sly

Sly

Elite Member
#3
Oct 18, 2002
28,748
878
#3
Shit so this is in 2.5 hours from now!

Thanks a lot for the post Mahbod jan. I would have missed it otherwise!
 
Sly

Sly

Elite Member
#13
Oct 18, 2002
28,748
878
#13
Khalatbari does fantastic stuff at times but in general he's become very ineffective! With a more in form Khalatbari, Sepahan should have scored 2-3 more goals.

It was about time Gordan was put back in the goal!!! Stimac should now realize the difference between him and Rahman Ahmadi!!!
 
Babr

Babr

Banned
#18
Nov 24, 2002
27,860
1,466
#18
Yahya team always play some good football, very few coaches in Iran who does things pretty ok in each teams he works for.
 
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