(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Al Sadd's 2020 AFC Champions League (ACL) campaign ended after losing 1-0 to Persepolis in their Round of 16 clash at the Education City Stadium yesterday. Issa Alkasir scored the winner for the Iranian side in the 88th minute.
'I feel very sad. This was a good chance to qualify, Al Sadd's coach Xavi said after the match. 'I think the game was really equal. We had more possession, more shots and better opportunities, but as I told the players, in this competition you make just one mistake and you're out.
'We made a mistake from a set-piece, a corner, and we didn't focus. We controlled the game, we created chances, we had a very good attitude and we were aggressive. We were focused until the last minute, but one mistake and we are out. This is the competition, and this is football. We have to accept it and learn from our mistakes, the Barcelona great said after his team exited from the premier club championship in Asia. The game got off to a calm start with no real chances until the 13th minute, when Santi Cazorla's powerful left-footed shot was kept out by the Persepolis keeper Hamed Lak.
At the other end, Persepolis had a big opportunity, with Bashar Resan trying a shot from inside the box but Tarek Salman blocked it by sliding into its way. Vahid Amiri then had a go, only to see his attempt miss the target. In the 33rd minute, Abdelkarim sent in a great low cross aimed at Bounedjah, but the Persepolis keeper was able to grab the ball before it reached the Algerian international. The first half went on to end in a goalless stalemate. Al Sadd emerged after the break without making any changes, and looked to translate their superiority on the pitch into goals. In the 55th minute, Abdelkarim tried a shot from just outside the box but it was too high, sailing over the crossbar.
A few minutes later, Cazorla floated in a freekick, and the ball deflected and fell right in front of the unmarked Akram Afif, but his shot flew over as well. Al Sadd were then saved by the crossbar in the 62nd minute, when Alkasir's shot hit the crossbar and went out. Coach Xavi Hernandez made his first change in the 66th minute, sending on Hassan Al Haydos in place of Mohammeed Waad, as he looked to freshen up the attack. Al Haydos got involved immediately, and set up Pedro for a run into the box but the right-back was brought down.
The referee waved play on, despite the Al Sadd players appealing for a penalty. Persepolis then had a golden opportunity through a quick counter a minute later, but once again Alkasir saw his attempt come back off the crossbar. In the 75th minute, Afif set up teed up Nam Tae-hee nicely for a shot on the edge of the box; however, the South Korean's shot was saved by Lak in the Persepolis goal. Finally, Al Sadd were dealt a huge late blow after Alkasir headed in following a corner in the 88th minute.
Despite the team's best efforts in the remaining period, including five minutes of stoppage time, they were unable to equalise and ended up losing 1-0. Persepolis join Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli Saudi FC and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals, with the draw scheduled for today. Later, at the same venue, a late goal by Abderrazak Hamdallah powered his team into the quarters with a win against Saudi's Al Taawoun.
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