Estighlal rally to beat Al Wahda (Photo)

Gulf News- Estighlal, from Iran, came from behind to defeat Al Wahda 5-3 last night to lead the standings of the quarterfinals of the Asian Clubs Championship, West Zone.

The match held at Al Nahyan stadium was a thriller with hosts Al Wahda taking the lead three times before losing concentration in the last 10 minutes to squander their three points.

Hosts, Al Wahda led by their Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere adopted 4:3:1:2 formation with Ramadan Mallullah in goal. Basheer Saeed, Abdulla Salim, Abdul Aziz Ahmed and Al Hay Jamaa in defence.

Abdul Salam Jumaa, Abdul Rahim Jamaa and Fahad Nassoud played in midfield while Mohammed Conteh was behind the strikers, Mohammed Salim Al Enazy and Fawzi Al Ruwaisi.

Iranian player Ahmed Momenzadeh (front) of Esteglal club fights for the ball with Emirati defender Fahd Massud Ali of Al-Wahdah club

The home team dominated the match despite the jaded performance of Conteh yesterday. Abdul Salam sent a long pass behind the defence to Al Enazy who returned to Al Ruwaisi. Al Ruwaisi was on target from inside the penalty box, 12 minutes into the game.

Al Wahda could have scored more goals but Conteh squandered two sitters and Al Enazy one.

Estighlal depended on their counter-attacks to reduce the pressure on their goal. It was form such a move on the right flank that they levelled the score by Sirus Din Mohamadi, five minutes before the break when Basheer failed to intercept first time.

Sirus Din Mohamadi After Goal

Abdul Rahim Jumaa played brilliantly in the second half. He put the hosts into the lead four minutes after the breather with a beautiful volley following a combined effort from Massoud and Al Eanzy.

But Alieza Akbar soon levelled the score again for Estighlal 10 minutes later, following a short pass from Sirus that caught Al Wahda's defence off guard.

Abdul Rahim came again to the rescue of his team when he headed home his team's third after Al Enazy headed back a cross from Conteh, 27 minutes after the interval.

Faraz Fatemi

Mallullah played bravely to deny the Iranians the equaliser. But the Iranians had a surprise up their sleeve when they brought in Faraz Fatemi and Farzad Majidi. both were soon in the thick of action. Farzad passed to Fakri who scored the equaliser, 10 minutes before the end.

Three minutes later, Fatemi added the fourth with a powerful header putting Estighlal into the lead for the first time.

Four minutes before the end, Mahdi Hashemi sealed the result scoring the fifth goal for the Iranians. Both goals resulted following defensive mistakes on the left flank of the home team where Ismail Rashid was introduced, replacing Basheer.

Estighlal will meet Nasaf Karsi on Friday, while Al Wahda take on Kuwait.