Revenge of the Saudi

Perspolis news agency : Perspolis beat Al Ittihad 3-2 to end the Saudi Arabian team's unbeaten record in the 2011 AFC Champions League and boost their own flagging hopes of place in the knockout stages.

Hamidreza Aliasgari stuck in the 14th minute before a second goal from Shpejtim Arifi two minutes later was cancelled out by Mohammed Al Rashed's firm header in the first-half.

Aliasgari extended Perspolis's lead in the 69th minute before the visitors pulled one back through a stoppage-time own goal from Sekou Berthe.

Terrible ten minutes in Tehran

Perspolis News Agency: Perspolis boss's Ali Daei admitted a bad 10-minute spell cost his side dearly as their 2011 AFC Champions League hopes suffered a setback with 3-1 defeat to Bunyodkor at the Azadi Stadium.

Anvar Rajabov put Bunyodkor in front with a thunderous finish on the hour mark before Hayrulla Karimov’s penalty nine minutes later, after substitute Alireza Mohamed had been sent off for hauling down Rajabov, doubled their advantage.

A horrible defensive mix-up allowed Shpejtim Arifi to pull a goal back with four minutes to go before keeper Ignatiy Nesterov pulled off a brilliant save to deny the same player in istoppage time. Bunyodkor immediately launched a counter-attack and Victor Karpenko scored the third goal.

Perspolis News Agency: Bunyodkor and Perspolis did nothing to help their 2011 AFC Champions League cause after the two teams played out a tepid goalless draw at JAR Stadium.

In a game devoid of any clear cut chances, the best fell to Kamoliddin Murzoev after just seven minutes but the forward was unable to capitalise.

Bunyodkor will in all likelihood feel the more aggrieved of the two sides having also had a goal disallowed in the second-half, while Perspolis will be relatively satisfied with a point although they will need to win the return in Tehran in two weeks' time to maintain their hopes of progressing to the last 16 from Group C.

Perspolis News Agency: Al Wahda claimed another AFC Champions League point after holding Piroozi to a 1-1 draw in their second successive Group C stalemate.

Hassan Ameen gave Al Wahda the lead after 54 minutes, but they were pegged back 12 minutes later when Hossein Badamki equalised for the Iranian hosts.

The result means Al Wahda remain unbeaten, with two draws so far, while Perspolis are off the mark with their first point in Group C.

Perspolis news agency : Abdelmalek Ziaya struck twice as Al Ittihad began their 2011 AFC Champions League assault with an 3-1 win over Perspolis at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

Al-Ittihad pulled away from Perspolis after a fairly even first half. Abdelmalik Ziaya opened the scoring for the Saudi side in the 20th minute before Maziar Zare equalised seven minutes later. The hosts then secured the win with a goal from Mohammed Nour in the 50th minute and another strike from Ziaya with fifteen minutes to go.

The striker opened the scoring for the two-time ACL champions in the Group C clash after 14 minutes with an exquisite finish before Maziar Zare's deflected free-kick put the Iranians back on level terms.

perspolis news agency: The draw for the 2011 AFC Champions League took place on Thursday with Asia’s premier club competition once again serving up an intriguing blend of matches that brings together familiar foes, continental giants and ambitious newcomers.



Every draw for every tournament can claim a “group of death” and for the 2011 AFC Champions League it is undoubtedly Group A, which brings together Saudi giants Al Hilal, who reached the last four of the 2010 competition, 2007 ACL finalists Sepahan, Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Al Jazira of the UAE.