Persepolis, Esteghlal look to break Iran's ACL title drought
It has been almost 30 years since a team from Iran has won a club title in Asia. Can Persepolis or Esteghlal finally break through?
It has been almost 30 years since a team from Iran has won a club title in Asia. Can Persepolis or Esteghlal finally break through?
Iran's Persepolis took a step toward booking a place in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League with a win over tournament debutants FC Goa.
Goa suffered their first defeat of the AFC Champions League campaign against last season's runners-up
Tournament favorites and QSL champs Al Sadd SC find themselves at the bottom of their group and with just one point after two matches.
Tournament debutants Istiklol picked up their first-ever win in the AFC Champs League moving them into a share of the top spot in Group A.
Last year's ACL runners-up Persepolis came back to hand Qatar's Al Rayyan a 3-1 defeat to continue their perfect start to the 2021 campaign.
FC Goa continued their impressive start in the ACL, holding Al Wahda 0-0 in their second game.
Far from diluting the competition pool, the new teams in the expanded AFC Champions League showed they can match up against the tournament's best.
Former champions Al Hilal were held to a 2-2 draw by tournament debutants AGMK from Uzbekistan.
Goa showed they are no pushovers with a hard-fought draw vs a superior opponent on their ACL debut.
Tractor FC struck late to salvage a 3-3 draw against Pakhtakor Tashkent after all six goals were scored in the second half.
Goa put on a defensive masterclass to hold Al Rayyan to a goalless draw.
AFC Champions League - Group A | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al Hilal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
Istiklol | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 4 |
AGMK | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Shabab Al-Ahli | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
AFC Champions League - Group B | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Sharjah | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +4 | 7 |
Traktor Sazi FC | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Air Force Club | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
Pakhtakor Tashkent | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -3 | 2 |
AFC Champions League - Group C | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Al Duhail | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
Esteghlal | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
Al-Ahli | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Al-Shorta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -8 | 0 |
AFC Champions League - Group D | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Al Nassr | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
Foolad | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +1 | 5 |
Al Sadd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Al Wehdat | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
AFC Champions League - Group E | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Persepolis | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 9 |
Al-Wahda | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
FC Goa | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 2 |
Al Rayyan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 1 |
AFC Champions League - Group F | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
BG Pathum United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Viettel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Champions League - Group G | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Johor Darul Ta'zim | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nagoya Grampus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pohang Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ratchaburi Mitrphol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Champions League - Group H | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Gamba Osaka | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jeonbuk Motors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sydney FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tampines Rovers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Champions League - Group I | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Beijing Guoan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kawasaki Frontale | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
United City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AFC Champions League - Group J | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
Guangzhou | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kitchee | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Port | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |