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Sepahan settled for a goalless draw at home against Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in their first leg of Asian Champions League (ACL) tie. Playing at home in Esfahan it was important for Sepahan to win the match but it was Kawasaki that started the match the more aggressive and pressing side. Sepahan started the match with one striker Mahmoud Karimi, Sepahan coaching team led by Luka Bonacic have been analysis Kawasaki’s games and clearly decided to start the match with caution and avoid conceding an away goal. Sepahan have got off to a better start in Iran’s Persian Gulf League (PGL) this season with 4 wins and a draw to date, they are currently second in the table and only on goal difference, Kawasaki however have only won one of their last five league matches and currently lie ninth in Japan’s J-League.
Both sides created chances to score in the first half with Sepahan coming close to scoring from a free-kick, however Kawasaki looked the stronger side in the first half and created more chances from open play. Kawasaki looked a professional well organised side and were dangerous when moving forward. It should be noted that Japan’s J-League turned professional some 15 years ago and they have invested heavily in clubs, equipment and facilities, foreign players and coaches at club and national level, the depth of their investment could be seen in Kawasaki’s performance as it takes years to bring professionalism to football.
Sepahan have done Iran pride in Asia, they have already defeated the odds by qualifying to the quarter finals and becoming only the second Iranian club to qualify for the knock-out stage of ACL (the first club was Paas FC). Sepahan made two substitutions at half time adding a second striker Emad Reza upfront to take the initiative and score, without a doubt Sepahan had more of a say in the second half but their final touch let them down time and again. Sepahan were also taking too many touches on the ball before taking a shot or passing the ball, at this level time is an essence, an extra touch taken on the ball allows the opponent to get a tackle in and defend, a combination of poor finishing and failure to play one touch football meant Sepahan failed to score and did not win the match, in the knock-out stages dropping points at home can be very costly, Kawasaki will have home advantage and thousands of fans behind them in the return leg to be played next Wednesday September 26th.
Kawasaki will be the happier of the two sides with the draw, however, Sepahan will be happy not to have conceded any goals on home soil, conceding away goals are equally costly and Sepahan avoided that, this means any score draw (i.e. 1-1, 2-2 or whatever) in Japan next week will put Sepahan through to the semi-final of ACL on ‘away goal rule’, Kawasaki must win the return leg if they are to proceed to the next round, a 0-0 draw would mean extra time and penalties to settle the tie. Sepahan must therefore take a more aggressive and attacking approach to the game next week with the aim of scoring first, should Sepahan take a 1-0 lead in the match Kawasaki would need to score twice to win the tie as a 1-1 draw would put Sepahan through, therefore despite dropping points at home Sepahan can use the away goal threat to their advantage and put pressure on Kawasaki.
No Iranian club has ever reached the semi-final stage of ACL; Sepahan could make history and defeat the odds yet again should they overcome Kawasaki. We wish Sepahan all the best in ACL.
Both sides created chances to score in the first half with Sepahan coming close to scoring from a free-kick, however Kawasaki looked the stronger side in the first half and created more chances from open play. Kawasaki looked a professional well organised side and were dangerous when moving forward. It should be noted that Japan’s J-League turned professional some 15 years ago and they have invested heavily in clubs, equipment and facilities, foreign players and coaches at club and national level, the depth of their investment could be seen in Kawasaki’s performance as it takes years to bring professionalism to football.
Sepahan have done Iran pride in Asia, they have already defeated the odds by qualifying to the quarter finals and becoming only the second Iranian club to qualify for the knock-out stage of ACL (the first club was Paas FC). Sepahan made two substitutions at half time adding a second striker Emad Reza upfront to take the initiative and score, without a doubt Sepahan had more of a say in the second half but their final touch let them down time and again. Sepahan were also taking too many touches on the ball before taking a shot or passing the ball, at this level time is an essence, an extra touch taken on the ball allows the opponent to get a tackle in and defend, a combination of poor finishing and failure to play one touch football meant Sepahan failed to score and did not win the match, in the knock-out stages dropping points at home can be very costly, Kawasaki will have home advantage and thousands of fans behind them in the return leg to be played next Wednesday September 26th.
Kawasaki will be the happier of the two sides with the draw, however, Sepahan will be happy not to have conceded any goals on home soil, conceding away goals are equally costly and Sepahan avoided that, this means any score draw (i.e. 1-1, 2-2 or whatever) in Japan next week will put Sepahan through to the semi-final of ACL on ‘away goal rule’, Kawasaki must win the return leg if they are to proceed to the next round, a 0-0 draw would mean extra time and penalties to settle the tie. Sepahan must therefore take a more aggressive and attacking approach to the game next week with the aim of scoring first, should Sepahan take a 1-0 lead in the match Kawasaki would need to score twice to win the tie as a 1-1 draw would put Sepahan through, therefore despite dropping points at home Sepahan can use the away goal threat to their advantage and put pressure on Kawasaki.
No Iranian club has ever reached the semi-final stage of ACL; Sepahan could make history and defeat the odds yet again should they overcome Kawasaki. We wish Sepahan all the best in ACL.
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