Sepahan rout Al Jazira 4-1 in Asian Champions League

The Pro League leaders went down to Sepahan of Iran 4-1 to suffer their fifth straight defeat and finish bottom of group.

Ehsan Haji Safi, of Sepahan, centre, is challenged by Al Jazira’s Ahmed Jumaa, right, and Yasser Matar in Abu Dhabi last night.
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Al Jazira 1 // Sepahan 4

ABU DHABI // Al Jazira's Asian Champions League (ACL) campaign ended dismally at the Mohammed bin Zayed stadium last night.

The Pro League leaders went down to Sepahan of Iran 4-1 to suffer their fifth straight defeat in the continental championship and finish bottom of Group A with just a single point they earned from a draw with Al Gharafa of Qatar in their opening match.

Javad Kazemeyan cancelled out Bare's effort that gave Jazira a 14th-minute lead. Ibrahim Toure, the Senegalese forward, scored twice in 11 minutes and Reza Enayati completed the rout with an injury-time goal.

The result took Sepahan's tally to 13 points to guarantee them a place in the last 16.

Bare scored with a stunning shot from inside the area after Ahmed Dada set-up the Brazilian striker, who lashed home to give the Abu Dhabi club a lead with 14 minutes on the clock after a fast-paced start on a humid evening in the capital.

Ali Kasheif, the Jazira goalkeeper, did well to block a powerful shot from Kazemeyan to deny the visitors from drawing level two minutes later. The stopper made another good save by charging up to clear the ball before Toure could reach it.

Kazemeyan was not to be denied a second time though as he picked up a loose ball and rifled it into the roof of the net after Toure's effort was blocked for a 32nd minute equaliser.

Kasheif nearly let a Fabio Januario shot through when he failed to collect a low shot from the Brazilian, but fortunately for him, the ball rolled out of play two minutes from the break. Jazira could have regained the lead on the stroke of half time had Ibrahim Diaky's dipping shot not crashed against the crossbar.

Abel Braga, the Jazira coach, made a double substitution to strengthen his attack in the second half. He replaced Sami Rubaiya, the central defender, with Matias Delgado, the attacking Argentine midfielder, and Ali Mabkhout came in for Ahmed Jumaa in attack.

However, the ploy did not work as the visitors exploited Jazira's frailties in defence to score three more.

Sixteen minutes after the restart Toure worked his way inside the area before drilling the ball past Kasheif. He added a second with a similar shot off a low cross from Ehsan Haji Safi before Reza Enayati completed the rout for Sepahan's fourth win in six games.

Elias brace seals Al Ain win

Al Ain bowed out of the competition with their heads held high after a 3-1 win over Nagoya Grampus of Japan at the Tahnoun bin Mohammed stadium last night.

Hamad Ali opened the scoring and Elias Ribeiro, the Brazilian forward, scored twice for the 2003 winners of the ACL to finish third in Group F.

FC Seoul of South Korea and Nagoya advanced to the last 16. Ali converted a Bandar Mohammed cross to take the lead after 20 minutes and Elias made it 2-0 before the break.

Nagoya pulled one back through Jungo Fujimoto before Elias scored his second from the penalty spot after Haddaf Abdulla was brought down by Genta Matsuo.?