Edgar headed in late on to give Shabab a puncher’s chance in the second leg next week although Khosro Heidari’s finely-struck last minute volley perhaps put the tie out of reach.
After a rough start to life in the 2013 AFC Champions League – losing the first two games of the competition – Shabab have slowly but surely found their feet in the competition. And they did the same in their first ever knockout game.
Esteghlal, an experienced AFC Champions League outfit and current Iranian champions, started confidently and with more authority than their nervous hosts. Chances were confined to counter attacks for Shabab while Salem Abdulla was regularly forced into saves, albeit simple ones.
One sequence all but summed up the two side’s early play when Siavash Akbarpour’s header was well saved by Hamadi following a patient build up, before Ciel went on a rapid one-man counter, which ended in the Brazilian pulling his shot wide.
Shabab’s goal led something of a charmed life, although the threats were usually routinely dealt with, while Shabab fed off counter attacks, mainly through Ciel.
While Ciel was the man causing most of the problems for Shabab, it was his countryman that struck first on the stroke of half time. Cutting in from the left, Luiz Henrique was given too much space in front of the penalty area, allowing the diminutive winger to fire past the goalkeeper from 18 yards.
Goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati picked up an ear bashing from a coach who clearly felt he could have done better.
When Esteghlal got their equaliser 10 minutes into the second half, there was certainly no doubt Rahmati’s opposite number could have done better.
Heidari struck a firm drive at the Shabab goal that Hamadi palmed invitingly into the path of ex-Aston Villa man Samuel who slid in for the equaliser.
Salem would atone 10 minutes later when he stopped Majidi’s poke with his face, although it is doubtful he knew much about it, before and after the shot.
Instead of retaliating after conceding, Shabab allowed the visitors to come at them, and with 17 minutes to go, they paid the price. Moments after having a header well saved, Nekonam rose to put a carbon copy header past Salem and drastically swing the momentum of the tie in favour of the visitors.
The Iranians then gave Shabab a mountain to climb when Majidi poked in from close range to make the score 3-1.
An Edgar header from a corner after 85 minutes at least gave the Emirati side some hope before they were quickly dashed by Heidari’s superb half-volley from the edge of the area.
With Al Ain, Al Jazira, and Al Nasr all eliminated at the group stage, Shabab were the UAE’s remaining hope of AFC Champions League glory, although they must overcome a huge deficit in Teharan next week in order to progress.
TALKING POINTS
Goalkeeper trouble
Luiz Henrique’s opener might possibly have been saved. It wasn’t clear-cut but there was an argument the keeper, Mahdi Rahmati, could have done better. One of the Esteghlal coaches certainly thought so.
Rahmati was laid into in a big way by the unknown coach when the sides walked off for half time. I can’t speak Farsi but it wasn’t difficult to work out the jist of what was said. Presumably he wasn’t passing on a recipe for lentil soup!
Model for success
I am a fan of the way Shabab have put their squad together in terms of allocation of foreigners. They have three pacey, creative and nimble Brazilians up top, who can all speak the same language and move fluently. Haydarov keeps the midfield ticking over deeper in field while their local talent mainly holds the fort.
Jose Mourinho has always claimed his formations are essentially six defensive players and four attacking players. Shabab have a similar maxim. When goals and quality local goalscorers are at such a premium, it makes sense to fill your attacking spots with effective foreigners. Defending is much more of a learned skill, based on discipline and therefore easier to craft with inferior players.
True stamina
The sole individual with the mega phone in the crowd can be heard in Abu Dhabi and beyond I’m sure. While he may not be to everyone’s taste, the man’s stamina can not be called into question. He sings from before the first whistle to after the last without so much as a pause for breath. As a notorious over-talker – of mainly feeble nonsense – I can only marvel at the man’s capacity. Probably the best performance of the evening.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Farhad Majidi (Esteghlal)
Majidi was Esteghlal’s heart and soul on the pitch and made all the key contributions.
KEY CONCLUSION
Al Shabab have enjoyed two notable surprise away wins in the AFC Champions League so far and they will need another if they are to move through to the quarter-finals after falling 4-2 behind to Esteghlal. Shabab have already collected scalps away at Pakhtakor, the game that secured qualification to the knockout phase, as well as a penalties win over Iranian side Sabaye Qom in the playoff.
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