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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Al Rayyan suffered a devastating 5-0 rout against Esteghlal of Iran at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday, while Al Sailiya lost to another Iranian side Shahr Khodro in a penalty shootout (5-4) at the Al Duhail Stadium to see their AFC Asian Champions League Group Stage dream come to an abrupt end.
The defeats means Qatar will have only two representatives (Al Sadd and Al Duhail) in this season’s Champions League.
Playing without a recognised striker leaving both Rodrigo Tabata and Yacine Brahimi to play the false nine role, Al Rayyan failed to make any meaningful opening as Esteghlal’s defenders wore down Brahimi despite his best efforts.
Goals from Cheick Diabate and a brace each from Mehdi Ghaedi and substitute Arsalan Motahhari sealed a group stage spot for the two-time champions.
“Yohan Boli was out and we didn’t have a striker which probably made it easy for their defense to key in on us. It’s possible that didn’t help our game.
“It is difficult to lose 5-0 but the first half for me we played good because they scored from two attacks which made us change our strategy. I told my players we could still win at half time but we came out in the second half and conceded immediately and I think that moment finished off the game for us,” Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre said after the match.
Esteghlal began the match better of the two teams and were soon ahead after Mehdi, who is known as ‘Neymar’ of Iran’s free-kick bounced off the post but Malian striker Cheick DIabate reacted quickly to smash home the rebound eight minutes in.
Al Rayyan tried to reply soon after but Tabata’s header from Mohammed Juma’s cross was easily gathered by Hossein Hosseini in goal for Esteghlal.
Esteghlal came close to making it two but Diabate glanced his header just wide from a lovely Mehdi Ghayedi cross.
But the Iranians extended their lead just before halftime after Al Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi lost possession in midfield and the ball fell kindly to Diabate whose cross was headed on by Mehdi over Fahad Baker.
The visitors began the second like they ended the first, extending their lead two minutes in as the brilliant Ghatedi got his second in the 47th minutes after a quick counter attack caught the Al Rayyan defence napping. Ahmed Maqsoud’s attempted clearance fell kindly to the midfielder who looped the ball over a hapless Fahad.
Al Rayyan dominated possession but could not find the breakthrough as Frank Kom’s speculative drive from way out flew high and wide.
Arsalan put the game to bed in the latter stages, bagging himself two goals in the process. The striker first thumped in a right-footed finish in the 84th minute before slotting home in the 92nd minute.
“Five goals against Al Rayyan isn’t an easy task. We played despite the problems we faced in the days leading to the match. I respect my players more for their performance,” Esteghlal coach
Meanwhile, Al Sailiya put on a brave show and will feel hard done by the referee who waved off a penalty appeal in the first half.
Karim Ansarifard missed his spot kick for the Peregrines who lost 5-4 after 120 minutes of play as Shahr Khodro moved on to the group stage of the ACL.
Doha
Al Rayyan suffered a devastating 5-0 rout against Esteghlal of Iran at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday, while Al Sailiya lost to another Iranian side Shahr Khodro in a penalty shootout (5-4) at the Al Duhail Stadium to see their AFC Asian Champions League Group Stage dream come to an abrupt end.
The defeats means Qatar will have only two representatives (Al Sadd and Al Duhail) in this season’s Champions League.
Playing without a recognised striker leaving both Rodrigo Tabata and Yacine Brahimi to play the false nine role, Al Rayyan failed to make any meaningful opening as Esteghlal’s defenders wore down Brahimi despite his best efforts.
Goals from Cheick Diabate and a brace each from Mehdi Ghaedi and substitute Arsalan Motahhari sealed a group stage spot for the two-time champions.
“Yohan Boli was out and we didn’t have a striker which probably made it easy for their defense to key in on us. It’s possible that didn’t help our game.
“It is difficult to lose 5-0 but the first half for me we played good because they scored from two attacks which made us change our strategy. I told my players we could still win at half time but we came out in the second half and conceded immediately and I think that moment finished off the game for us,” Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre said after the match.
Esteghlal began the match better of the two teams and were soon ahead after Mehdi, who is known as ‘Neymar’ of Iran’s free-kick bounced off the post but Malian striker Cheick DIabate reacted quickly to smash home the rebound eight minutes in.
Al Rayyan tried to reply soon after but Tabata’s header from Mohammed Juma’s cross was easily gathered by Hossein Hosseini in goal for Esteghlal.
Esteghlal came close to making it two but Diabate glanced his header just wide from a lovely Mehdi Ghayedi cross.
But the Iranians extended their lead just before halftime after Al Rayyan’s Yacine Brahimi lost possession in midfield and the ball fell kindly to Diabate whose cross was headed on by Mehdi over Fahad Baker.
The visitors began the second like they ended the first, extending their lead two minutes in as the brilliant Ghatedi got his second in the 47th minutes after a quick counter attack caught the Al Rayyan defence napping. Ahmed Maqsoud’s attempted clearance fell kindly to the midfielder who looped the ball over a hapless Fahad.
Al Rayyan dominated possession but could not find the breakthrough as Frank Kom’s speculative drive from way out flew high and wide.
Arsalan put the game to bed in the latter stages, bagging himself two goals in the process. The striker first thumped in a right-footed finish in the 84th minute before slotting home in the 92nd minute.
“Five goals against Al Rayyan isn’t an easy task. We played despite the problems we faced in the days leading to the match. I respect my players more for their performance,” Esteghlal coach
Meanwhile, Al Sailiya put on a brave show and will feel hard done by the referee who waved off a penalty appeal in the first half.
Karim Ansarifard missed his spot kick for the Peregrines who lost 5-4 after 120 minutes of play as Shahr Khodro moved on to the group stage of the ACL.
