Vieira plays down Sepahan success

AFC - Sepahan's Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira played down the magnitude of his side's 2-1 victory over two-time champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, despite it keeping their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals from Group A alive.

Seyed Mohammad Salehi and defender Hadi Aghili scored in the second half for last year's finalists, while substitute Talal Al Meshal grabbed a consolation for the visitors in the closing stages.

Sepahan's first points in three games in the continental competition helped Vieira's side move within three points of Al Ittihad, who lost their 100 percent start to the competition.

"I don't think we should celebrate too much. We have narrowed the gap to the other teams but there is much more work to do," said Vieira, who led Iraq to last year's AFC Asian Cup title.

"We made a few mistakes like giving them too much space, which led to their goal. But we had to take risks because we had to win.

"I'm very optimistic that we can progress and I want the players to be the same."

Salehi made no mistake from close range after being picked out by Hadi Jafari's inviting cross a minute before the hour mark before Aghily doubled the lead with 19 minutes remaining after heading home Ehsan Hajy Safi's cross.

Sepahan goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi was beaten with two minutes remaining when former AFC Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari crossed for second half substitute Al Meshal to head home what proved to be Al Ittihad's consolation.

Al Ittihad coach Estevam Soares was left to bemoan poor finishing from the Saudi league side, who were without suspended midfielder Saud Al Khariri and injured forward Magno Alves.

"In the second half both teams had chances but we couldn't take ours and Sepahan could. We had a bad day," said the Brazilian.

"If Al Khariri and Alves had been here there would have been a different result. They're two of our key players and we missed them."

The Saudis, who won back-to-back AFC Champions League titles in 2004 and 2005, were criticised by some for being over physical but Soares dismissed such accusations.

"Our players played fairly," he added. "I like to be physical but I don't like going over the top."