Nemati seals Persepolis’ passage to ACL final
HONG KONG: Iran’s Persepolis reached the final of the Asian Champions League for the first time after drawing 1-1 with Qatar’s Al Sadd on Tuesday to seal a 2-1 aggregate semi-final win.
At a packed out Azadi Stadium, Siamak Nemati’s bouncing volley four minutes into the second half cancelled out Baghdad Bounedjah’s earlier strike for Al Sadd to secure Persepolis’ passage to the final.
They will meet Japan’s Kashima Antlers, who fought back from behind to edge Suwon Bluewings 6-5 on aggregate and reach their first Asian Champions League final after a six-goal thriller yesterday.
Persepolis will travel to the east of the continent to play in the first leg of the final on Nov 3 with the second leg to be held in Tehran on Nov 10.
Suwon looked on course for the final after three quick goals in the second half before Kashima, who came from two down to edge the first leg 3-2, mounted another stunning comeback.
Late goals from Daigo Nishi and new Brazilian signing Serginho made it 3-3 on the night as the Japanese side snatched a heartstopping aggregate win.
Kashima held the edge after the rollercoaster first leg, and they increased their aggregate lead to 4-2 after Shuto Yamamoto’s opener on 25 minutes at Suwon World Cup Stadium in South Korea.
From a free kick, the Japan international defender stole in at the near post and stooped low to plant his header past Shin Hwa Yong, silencing Suwon’s home fans.
Kashima were in the driving seat, but Suwon came charging back with three goals in nine minutes to regain control after the break.
Six minutes after the restart, Lim Sang Hyub gobbled up a close-range rebound, before Jo Sung Jin scored with a diving header from a corner two minutes later.
Then on the hour-mark, Montenegrin veteran Dejan Damjanovic squeezed one in at the near post for his 36th Champions League goal — equalling Korean great Lee Dong Gook’s tournament record.
However, Suwon’s joy was short-lived as Nishi pulled one back on 64 minutes, making it 3-2 on the night and 5-5 on aggregate as extra time beckoned.
And Korean heads dropped on 82 minutes when Serginho buried his shot in the top corner to put Kashima 6-5 ahead on aggregate and set the Japanese side on course for the final.
Suwon’s Sang Hyub fired a shot across the face and Yeom Ki Hun hit the side-netting in a frantic period of stoppage time before the final whistle confirmed Kashima’s hard-fought win.