{"id":24807,"date":"2016-04-06T15:06:52","date_gmt":"2016-04-06T22:06:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=24807"},"modified":"2016-04-06T15:06:52","modified_gmt":"2016-04-06T22:06:52","slug":"acl-md4-group-c-tractorsazi-tabriz-2-0-pakhtakor-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2016\/04\/06\/acl-md4-group-c-tractorsazi-tabriz-2-0-pakhtakor-video\/","title":{"rendered":"ACL MD4 – Group C: Tractorsazi Tabriz 2-0 Pakhtakor [VIDEO]"},"content":{"rendered":"

AFC – TABRIZ, Tractorsazi Tabriz returned to winning ways on Wednesday when goals from Augusto and Saeid Aghaei earned the Iranians a 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan\u2019s Pakhtakor in Group C of the 2016 AFC Champions League.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Augusto (Augusto C\u00e9sar dos Santos Moreira) netted in the 59th minute before Aghaei sealed his team\u2019s success eight minutes from time as Amir Ghalehnoy\u2019s side avenged their loss in Tashkent on Matchday Three.<\/p>\n

The win means the Iranians move onto nine points from four games, retaining top spot in the group while Pakhtakor remain on four points.<\/p>\n

Tractorsazi had opened their AFC Champions League campaign with back-to-back wins over Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates and put their hopes of a place in the knockout phase back on track following their defeat against the Uzbeks prior to the international break.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur good condition today was because of the support of our fans,” said Ghalehnoy. “We played well in the second half when we introduced Soroush Rafiei.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were very tough defensively and we didn’t give any clear chances to Pakhtakor. Now we have nine points and I think we have passed 90% of the qualification route. The players gave a great performance today.”<\/p>\n

The home team had the bulk of possession and territorial dominance in the first half, but despite being on top Tractorsazi created few clear-cut opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

Mehdi Kiani headed just over the bar in the 26th minute following a long throw into the six-yard box by Sina Ashoori while, with four minutes remaining in the half, Aghaei pulled his shot wide of the goal after a quickly taken free kick from outside the penalty area.<\/p>\n

With half time fast approaching, Farzhad Hatami headed over the bar from Augusto\u2019s cross from the left, causing Pakhtakor goalkeeper Nikita Ribkin few problems.<\/p>\n

After a disappointing first half, however, Tractorsazi upped the pace in the second period and soon claimed the reward they deserved.<\/p>\n

Augusto (pictured) should have put his side in front three minutes after the restart when he beat the offside trap only to fire his shot well wide of goal, but in the 59th minute the Iranians finally went ahead.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian allowed substitute Soroush Rafiei\u2019s low angled pass from just inside his own half to run across his body before hitting with an expertly struck shot that gave Ribkin little chance.<\/p>\n

Six minutes later, Augusto could have doubled Tractorsazi\u2019\u2019s lead but for a fine close range save by Ribkin, and further attempts were squandered by Hatami and Bakhtiar Rahmani.<\/p>\n

Pakhtakor rarely threatened, with only Adnan Orahovac\u2019s header of Sherzodbek Karimov\u2019s corner going close and, with eight minutes left, Tractorsazi sealed the win when Aghaei side-footed Hatami\u2019s cross in from six yards out.<\/p>\n

“It was a good game and I believe that Tractorsazi were lucky,\u201d said Pakhtakor coach Numon Khasanov. \u201cWe will try to play better football in our next match.<\/p>\n

\u201cTractorsazi have a very good chance to qualify for the next stage. Tractorsazi’s substitute players made the difference today. They are a big team with great fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were different in the second half today, and that was because of the support of their fans.\u201d<\/p>\n