Zob Ahan grinds out 0-0 draw with Lekhwiya in AFC Champions League
Iranian football club Zob Ahan Esfahan has been held to a goalless draw against Qatar’s Stars League champions Lekhwiya at the group stage of the 2016 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, to leave the Iranian team on four points in the second place of the table.
Zob Ahan started the stronger, and looked the better of the two in the first few minutes of the Group B match played at Foolad Shahr Stadium just outside Esfahan, central Iran.
Only two minutes into the game, striker Kaveh Rezaei blasted a free kick from outside the 18-yard box in the hoping of scoring the opener for the hosts, though Lekhwiya goalkeeper Ahmad Ali Hatami ended his hope and pulled off a smart save.
Zob Ahan defender Ali Hamam aimed a header at the visitors’ goal in the 5th minute, but the ball struck the horizontal crossbar and went off the pitch.
Lekhwiya soccer players took time to find their rhythm, and Alain Dioko struck a shot from outside the area in the 18th minute, which Sepahan goalie Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri adroitly saved.
Djamel Belmadi’s men continued to exert their spell of pressure on Sepahan in the remaining minutes of the first half, but could not tack a goal.
After the break, Sepahan soccer players returned to action refreshed and seemingly more determined in their composure. Rezaei took up a wonderful opportunity in the 47th minute, but failed to place the ball at the back of Lekhwiya’s net.
Lekhwiya mounted a number of counter attacks minutes later, and its midfielder Ismaeel Mohammad hit a shot from outside the penalty area in the 54th minute, which flew over the bar.
A minute later, Rezaei grasped a perfect scoring chance found Hatami in a single position. He sailed the ball through the goalkeeper's legs, waiting for the ball to cross the line. Lekhwiya’s Spanish defender Chico Flores, however, made a save.
In the 79th minute, Sepahan footballer Mohammad Nejad Mehdi was close to score the winner in a one-on-one position, but sent the ball over the goal.
As the clock ticked toward the final whistle, neither Sepahan nor Lekhwiya was able to produce a goal and both teams were held to a 0-0 draw.
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