Latest news with #Sepahan
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Meet Mohun Bagan's opponents in AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 group stage
The AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 draw was completed on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, with Mohun Bagan Super Giant being placed in Group C. The Kolkata side qualified directly for the group stage of the competition after winning the ISL League Shield last season. This is MBSG's eighth appearance in Asia's second-tier men's club tournament, which was rebranded from the AFC Cup to the AFC Champions League Two last season Who will Mohun Bagan Super Giant face in AFC Champions League Two 2025-26 group stage? GROUP C Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (IRN) Al Hussein (JOR) Mohun Bagan Super Giant (IND) Ahal FC (TKM) *The top two teams from each group will qualify for the round of 16. Know more about MBSG's opponents in ACL 2: Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC (Iran) Commonly known as Sepahan, is an Iranian sports club from Isfahan. It finished as the runner-up in the Persian Gulf Pro League 2024-25. Founded on 5 October 1953, Sepahan ended the duoply of the two Tehran-based clubs, Persepolis and Esteghlal, to win the Pro League in 2002-03 season. It became the first Iranian club to win three consecutive league titles between 2009 to 2011 Sepahan reached the AFC Champions League (Elite) final in 2007 to qualify for that year's FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first-ever Iranian representative to the tournament. Home Stadium - Naghsh -e- Jahan Stadium in Isfahan. Al Hussein SC (Jordan) Al Hussein SC is the Jordanian Pro League 2024-25 champion. Founded in 1964, the Irbid-based club is one of the oldest clubs in Jordan. In the 2023–24 season, the club secured its first Jordanian Pro League trophy on the final matchday with a 2–1 victory over Sahab. Last season, it retained its league title despite entering the final matchday in second place, thanks to a late equaliser by Al-Ramtha against league leaders Al-Wehdat. Home Stadium - Al-Hassan Stadium in Irbid. Ahal FC (Turkmenistan) Ahal FC is the runner-up of the Ýokary Liga 2024. Founded in 1989, the club played its first-ever top flight season in 1992. The Anau based club qualified for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two group stage by beating Regar-TadAZ of Tajikistan 2-1 in the qualifying play-offs. Home Stadium - Ashgabat Stadium in Anau.
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Duhail rally from being a goal down to beat Sepahan, secure Elite berth
Bamba, Boulbina and Piatek score goals for the Red KnightsAFC Doha Qatar Stars League side Al Duhail overturned an early deficit to hand Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan FC a 3-2 defeat in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26 Preliminary Stage on Tuesday. Amin Hazbavi gave the side from the Iran a third minute lead but goals from Ibrahima Bamba, Adil Boulbina and Krzysztof Piatek by the 33rd minute saw Djamel Belmadi's outfit secure victory. Milad Zakipour scored a late consolation for Sepahan. The result means Al Duhail will be one of the 12 clubs participating in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite from West Asia, with the draw due to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Al Duhail's success came despite Sepahan taking the lead with a little over two minutes on the clock, Arya Yousefi's long throw towards the six-yard box slipping through the Al Duhail defence to allow defender Hazbavi to step forward and coolly side-foot home. The Iranian side's advantage was to last only nine minutes, however, as Bamba charged into the Sepahan penalty area to meet Benjamin Bourigeaud's corner and power his header into the top corner. By the 24th minute Al Duhail had gone in front through a moment of exceptional skill from Boulbina, who pulled down Tuta's pass from deep with his first touch and then smashed his shot past Seyed Hossein Hosseini via the underside of the crossbar with his second. The Red Kbihts side doubled their lead 12 minutes before the break as Piatek ruthlessly punished a mistake by Ehsan Hajisafi, intercepting the midfielder's pass to race in on goal and give Hosseini little chance with a thumping strike. Bourigeaud saw his shot tipped onto the crossbar by Hosseini with four minutes left in the half and Boulbina dragged his attempt wide at the end of a rapid-fire break as Al Duhail's dominance continued until the break. Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria made a flying save to keep out Kaveh Rezaei's dipping free kick in the 51st minute as Sepahan sought to claw their way back into the game, with the Qatari goalkeeper responding again seven minutes later to deny Arash Rezavand. Hajisfai was unable to curl his left-foot effort inside Zakaria's right post with 15 minutes remaining but, while Zakipour bundled the ball over the line from close range in the third minute of injury time, Al Duhail held on to progress. Scoreline: Al Duhail 3 (A Bamba 11', A Boulbina 24', K Piatek 33') bt Sepahan FC 2 (A Hazbavi 3', M Zakipour 90+3')
Qatar Tribune
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Duhail to meet Iran's Sepahan at Khalifa International Stadium today
Tribune News Network Doha The battle to reach the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite (West) will see Al Duhail take on Iran's Sepahan SC at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday at 7pm. Al Duhail are seeking a strong start to the season by winning and qualifying for the group stage of the continent's premier club tournament. The Red Knights are aiming to write a new chapter of Asian success under Algerian Djamel Belmadi, who has previously coached them to numerous domestic titles. Addressing the media on eve of the match, the experienced Belmadi said, 'A very tough match and a special challenge awaits us in a highly significant tournament, but we are confident in our team's ability to achieve victory. 'We have sufficient experience and potential to achieve victory and qualify for the league stage. We have undergone strong preparations and we are looking forward to a strong start to the new season. Sepahan is a serious team and we have keenly studied them technically and looked at our own strengths in preparing for the challenge,' he added. Al Duhail's star defender Karim Boudiaf, said, 'We will play a decisive match against Sepahan tomorrow, and we are ready for it, having undergone intensive preparations for three weeks. 'We are on the right track under the leadership of our coach, Djamel Belmadi, and we are very compatible with his approach. We aspire to win and we have great experience in the Asian championship.' Sepahan FC coach Moharram Navidikia also exuded confidence in his team's abilities. He said, 'The match against Al Duhail looks very difficult but we are confident in our ability to win because we are looking forward to qualifying for the league stage. It is one of the most important matches we will play this season. 'Al Duhail are a good team and have made many changes to their ranks by signing a new coach and players, but I have great confidence in my players, so I am certain that they will do their best until the last moment.' Sepahan player Ehsan Hajsafi, said, 'We have analyzed Al Duhail's strengths and weaknesses well, and we are looking forward to exploiting those weaknesses to our advantage and scoring goals. 'We've had good training sessions in recent days and are improving day by day. Therefore, we are 100% mentally and physically prepared for tomorrow's match, which we hope to win and please our fans.' Al Duhail have strengthened their ranks with a number of strong signings to bolster their chances this season, most notably Italian star Marco Verratti and young Algerian striker Adil Boulbina along with Senegalese Youssouf Sabaly, Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek and Brazilian Lucas Silva Melo, known as 'Tuta'. Both teams' last involvement came in 2023-24, with Al Duhail targeting a 13th appearance while Sepahan are eyeing a 15th; the two sides are also each featuring in the preliminary rounds for a second time, with the former succeeding in 2014 while the latter stumbled in 2024-25. Semi-finalists in 2022, Al Duhail finished as 2024-25 Qatar Stars League runners-up and hold a superior head-to-head record against the away side, winning three of their four previous encounters—all in the ACL Group Stage (2012 and 2022). Sepahan, 2007 finalists and 2024-25 league runners-up in Iran, will hope to overturn the losing streak. The two preliminary stage winners will join the 22 teams that were granted direct entry to the league stage, while the losing pair will enter the ACL Two Group Stage directly.
