TEHRAN – Foolad defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly 1-0 in Monday’s round-of-16 encounter at Al Thumama Stadium.
Captain Sasan Ansari’s second-half goal was the difference as Iran’s Foolad reached the AFC Champions League 2022 quarterfinals.
The two teams observed a minute of silence in solidarity with Syria and Turkey and to honor the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit the two nations.
The moment Foolad had been waiting for finally arrived in the 64th minute when a seemingly harmless cross from Mehdi Shiri was chested down by defender Saleh Al Qumaizi towards his teammate Al Ahmed who was nonchalant in his approach, allowing Ansari to snatch the ball and convert it into the back of the net from close range to give the Iranian side the lead.
The quarterfinals will be played on February 23 and the semifinal (the regional west final) on February 26.