Shahrdari Sirjan beat FC Bunyodkor by 2:1 in AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021
Aqaba: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Shahrdari Sirjan edged Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor 2-1 in their AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 opener at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium, Jordan on Sunday.
The opening minutes were evenly contested but Shahrdari Sirjan were the first to settle into the match when they found the back of the net after just six minutes.
Shahrdari Sirjan’s Hadis Basatshir got the move going when she picked out Zahra Alizadeh on the left flank, who wriggled her way past the Bunyodkor defence before cutting back to Nasab to score.
Bunyodkor were under pressure again four minutes later when Alizadeh surged down the left flank before sending Shabnam Behesht through on goal but goalkeeper Olga Kakharova was at her best to deny the defender.
Bunyodkor’s Lyudmila Karachik had a chance to level the tie in the 12th minute but she failed to latch onto a Umida Zoirova through ball, and the forward sent a free-kick wide three minutes later.
Elmira Gulamova’s side continued to press for an equaliser and Karachik was in the thick of action once again, sending Ilvina Ablyakimova through who, however, couldn’t convert from inside the box.
Karachik almost levelled the tie in the 40th minute, her free-kick just missing the target by centimetres as Shahrdari Sirjan took a 1-0 lead into half-time.
Bunyodkor wasted an opportunity in the 64th minute to draw level with Saida Galimova missing the target from above the box.
It was to cost them as Shahrdari Sirjan doubled their advantage two minutes later when an unmarked Alizadeh beat the Bunyodkor defence before sending a wonderful lob over Kakharova into the back of the net.
Bunyodkor’s persistence finally paid off in the 77th minute when Dildora Nozimova reduced the deficit from the penalty spot after Shahrdari Sirjan goalkeeper Arefeh Kazemi brought down Karachik inside the area.
However, it was not enough for Bunyodkor as Shahrdari Sirjan held on for the win.
Shahrdari Sirjan will face India’s Gokulam Kerala next on Wednesday, while Bunyodkor meet Amman Club of Jordan.
Courtesy - https://the-afc.com/
