Late Khalilzadeh Goal Seals Persepolis Win Over Al-Taawoun
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A late Shojae Khalilzadeh goal earned Iran’s Persepolis a valuable 1-0 victory over Al-Taawoun on Matchday Three of the 2020 AFC Champions League Group C on Tuesday.
Persepolis went into the game chasing their first win in the 2020 edition, but for the team to do so, it needed to overcome unbeaten Al-Taawoun.
The deadlock was broken with eight minutes to go through the unlikeliest of sources. An out-swinging corner at the near post was nodded onto the path of defender Khalilzadeh, who was well-positioned at the far post to control and apply a left-footed finish into the bottom corner to hand Persepolis what would prove to be the winning goal.
Despite the defeat, Al-Taawoun remains top of Group C thanks to a superior head-to-head record over second-placed Al-Duhail SC who had beaten Sharjah FC earlier in the day to reach six points, while Persepolis climbs above Sharjah into second place with four points, just two behind the group leader at the halfway point.
Persepolis went into the game chasing their first win in the 2020 edition, but for the team to do so, it needed to overcome unbeaten Al-Taawoun.
The deadlock was broken with eight minutes to go through the unlikeliest of sources. An out-swinging corner at the near post was nodded onto the path of defender Khalilzadeh, who was well-positioned at the far post to control and apply a left-footed finish into the bottom corner to hand Persepolis what would prove to be the winning goal.
Despite the defeat, Al-Taawoun remains top of Group C thanks to a superior head-to-head record over second-placed Al-Duhail SC who had beaten Sharjah FC earlier in the day to reach six points, while Persepolis climbs above Sharjah into second place with four points, just two behind the group leader at the halfway point.