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Asian football title in balance after pulsating draw
ISFAHAN, Iran (AFP) - Iran's Sepahan and Urawa Reds of Japan fought to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating AFC Champions League final first leg on Wednesday.
Robson Ponte's memorable strike capped a dominant first half from the Japanese champions before Sepahan turned the tables in the second period, scoring within moments of the restart through Mahmoud Karimi.
Urawa coach Holger Osieck described the draw, which sets up an enticing decider for the Asian title in a week's time, as "disappointing" and criticised the bumpy Iranian pitch.
"This is an away game. Our goal is to get a good result at home next week. We were able to do what we had to do here," he said.
"Probably spectators think 'how did that happen?' but the ground conditions were not good at all and the ball often flew too far. It was disappointing."
Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic said: "We were stronger on the field. Though in the last 20 minutes of the game we were not able to keep the team unity together.
"In today's match I found out more about Urawa. We have another 90 minutes in the next game. I am still hopeful."
In front of a livewire crowd, Urawa made light of the absences of injured captain Nobuhisa Yamada and defensive lynch-pin Marcus Tulio Tanaka as they soaked up early pressure from the home team.
And the favourites were soon into their stride as busy striker Yuchiro Nagai, fed by left winger Tadaaki Hirakawa, allowed an easy headed chance to bounce off his shoulder and wide of the goal.
Nagai drilled a shot left and curled another against the post, 'keeper Abbah Mohammadi beaten, as the visitors turned the screw.
Urawa were on top but Ponte's opener on the stroke of half-time came from nowhere as the Brazilian playmaker cued up from 25 yards and bent it in off the post, sparking wild celebrations from the travelling fans.
But Sepahan, the tournament's surprise package after a giant-killing run to the final, came out firing after half-time and were back on terms in a matter of seconds.
Karimi, Sepahan's top scorer in the Iranian league, picked up a loose ball in the box and fired his angled shot against the post before picking up the rebound and slamming it home.
The goal turned the game on its head and Urawa were suddenly backpedalling furiously with Moharram Navidkia producing a superb reaction save from goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki.
Emad Mohammed hit the side-netting from close range and half-time substitute Mohsen Hamidi poked a shot within inches, as Urawa were restricted to half-chances at the other end.
"As I said, our goal is to win the next game at home. Fortunately, we didn't lose to give them a lead. Hopefully, we can win the next game," Osieck said.
Both teams are the first from their countries to reach the final of Asia's premier club competition, now in its fifth year. South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors broke a Middle Eastern stranglehold on the event with their victory last year.
The winner earns the bonus of a place in the year-ending Club World Cup in Japan, where they will face other continental champions including AC Milan.
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