Zob Ahan remain in pole position

AFC - Iranian cup winners Zob Ahan retained their leadership of Group A of the AFC Champions League as they earned an invaluable goalless away draw against Qatar Sports Club on Wednesday.

Hosts Qatar SC would have leapfrogged their Iranian counterparts with a win but with their star-studded attack firing blanks on the night, Zob Ahan were able to hold on to a narrow one-point lead over their Qatari rivals at the top of the group.

Having registered a 3-3 draw against the same opponents on their home ground in Esfahan on April 6, Zob Ahan had to give a good account of themselves in Doha to hold out against the Qatar SC challenge and maintain their unbeaten record in this year's AFC Champions League.

In a game of few chances, Meshal Mubaraq proved the most menacing threat to the Iranian backline, who did an excellent job to thwart a series of dangerous moves orchestrated by the Qatari international.

Former Argentine international Claudio Cannigia played the full 90 minutes at the Al Rayyan Stadium, but failed to really threaten despite numerous attempts on the Zob Ahan goal.

Zob Ahan came out of their defensive shell in the last 20 minutes but with their strikers resorting mainly to long-range attempts, they drew a blank on the night.

Caniggia's best chance to break the deadlock came in the final minute of the match when a Mubaraq cross landed at his feet, but the former international team-mate of football legend Diego Maradona, completely missed with a left-footed flick from inside the Zob Ahan box.

Qualification for the quarter-finals is still very much up for grabs in Group A following the withdrawal of Bahraini club Riffa from the AFC Champions League earlier this week.

Zob Ahan will next play Pakhtakor on May 5, with the Uzbekistan team still in with a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stage again as they lie three points adrift of Zob Ahan, having played two games less than the Iranians.