AFC - Pakhtakor FC came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with Persepolis FC in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 tie on Monday.
Pakhtakor’s Dragan Ceran cancelled out Ali Alipour’s first half opener as the side from Uzbekistan took a well deserved point from their rivals from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Both sides were eager to bounce after having suffered defeats in their respective openers but it was Persepolis who got off to a flying start, taking the lead inside the opening minute.
Vahid Amiri flicked Farshad Ahmadzadeh’s corner into the path of the unmarked Ali Alipour who rifled home the ball past a stunned Pakhtakor keeper Vladimir Nazarov and into the roof of the net.
Pakhtakor took their time to settle with Dragan Ceran mistiming his headed attempt in the sixth minute, while Khojiakbar Alijonov’s powerful effort from just outside the box was turned away by Persepolis’ keeper Alexis Guendouz.
Otabek Jurakuziyev then came close after angling Khojiakbar Alijonov’s cross over the bar just before the half-hour mark.
At the other end, Persepolis should have scored in the 33rd minute when Alipour sent Amiri clear but with only Nazarov to beat, the midfielder could only manage a tame shot that was easily dealt with by the Pakhtakor custodian.
Pakhtakor threatened in the closing stages of the half but neither Khojiakbar Alijonov nor Dostonbek Khamdamov could find the breakthrough as Persepolis went into the break with their noses in front.
Persepolis had to stay on guard in the second half with Dostonbek Khamdamov forcing Alexis into a save in the 52nd minute before Ceran played a neat ball to Umar Adhamzoda, who set-up Alijonov only for the defender to shoot agonisingly wide.
Pakhtakor’s persistence carved them a way through in the 59th minute after Sabirkhodjaev’s dummy run from the edge of the box opened up space for Ceran to tuck home a curling equaliser.
Persepolis never regained the rhythm that had seen them taking the lead as Pakhtahor continued to look more dangerous with Pulatkhuzha Kholdorkhonov almost outmuscling Alexis in the 77th minute before Umar Adhamzoda’s dangerous ball across the face of goal was cleared away by Ayoub El Amloud.
Pakhtakor travel to face Iraq’s Al Shorta next on October 21 while Persepolis are away to Qatar’s Al Sadd SC.