Tractor Earn Second Successive Win at 2025-26 ACL Elite

Date: 04 November 2025 - 22:03

News ID: ۱۴۵۴۲۶

TEHRAN – Iran’s Tractor football club defeated Iraqi side Al Shorta 1-0 in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 at the Yadegar-e-Imam Stadium in Tabriz Monday night.

Mehdi Torabi scored the solitary goal of the match in the 26th minute.

It was Tractor’s successive win in the 2025-26 ACL Elite.

Building on their 5-0 success against United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah FC on Matchday Three, Tractor moved onto eight points with Al Shorta of Iraq only having a draw to show from its four matches.

Tractor will next face Uzbekistan’s PFC Nasaf on November 24 while Al Shorta travel to play Al Hilal SFC of Saudi Arabia a day later.

Tractor Must Build on Defensive Masterclass

Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand emphasized the importance of Tractor continuing to be miserly in defense if they are to shine in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 after picking up their second win of the campaign.

Monday’s 1-0 win over Iraq’s Al Shorta was the Iran side’s third clean sheet in four matches as Beiranvand and company produced another show of defensive resilience, especially in the second half when the away side pushed hard for the equalizer.

“I congratulate the Tractor team, the technical staff, the players and the fans,” said Beiranvand. “If it weren’t for their support and efforts today, we would have had a hard time.”

“Before the game, Mr. Skocic (head coach) spoke to us and emphasized that Al Shorta plays high level and its current position in the table is not the team’s true right. If it had been a little luckier, it could have had nine points. We knew we were facing a quality team.

“In these three clean sheets, all members of the team, from the striker to the goalkeeper, played a role. The result is the result of the effort of the entire team.

“Not conceding a goal gives the team character. I only think about Tractor’s success and I believe that if we all set the team’s success as our goal and move forward step by step, good things will happen.”

Victory Over Al Shorta Was Crucial

Tractor coach Dragan Skocic says that win over Al Shorta in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 was an important win for them.

“When we cannot create many opportunities, we will not get a satisfactory win,” said Skocic. “The first half was like that, we did not have many opportunities.

“Sometimes you have to win with a lot of effort. We do not have (Mohammed) Naderi and Igor (Postonjski). The guys who came back from injuries and those who joined us are gradually getting used to it.

“Anyway, it was an important win. Congratulations to everyone who loves Tractor. I know it wasn’t a pretty win, but sometimes you have to win tooth and nail,” Skocic concluded.