Shabab Al-Ahli Beat Esteghlal 2-0 to Join Al-Ain on Nine Points in AFC Champions League Elite

Shabab Al-Ahli beat Esteghlal 2-0 at Rashid Stadium in Dubai on October 27 to make it three wins from three in the AFC Champions League Elite and move level on nine points with Al-Ain at the top of the West Region.

The hosts created the first chances. Wout Faes played a through ball to Mohammad Juma in the 10th minute, but the forward was muscled off the ball by the Esteghlal defence. Four minutes later, Kauan Santos sent Sardar Azmoun through on goal, but Esteghlal goalkeeper Habib Far Abbasi stood firm to make the save. Esteghlal had their first look at goal in the 17th minute, when Saleh Hardani drilled a free-kick into the hands of Shabab goalkeeper Matheus Donelli.

The match stayed goalless for more than an hour. The breakthrough came after the introduction of substitutes from the bench. In the 69th minute, Matheusao latched onto a precise pass from Azmoun and swept the ball home with a first-time finish to give Shabab the lead.

Azmoun was involved again 15 minutes later. In the 84th minute, he found Brazilian forward Juan Bezerra, who fired a low right-footed shot into the net. It was Bezerra's first goal for the club since he joined from Zamalek in the summer. He had already provided two assists in the win over Al-Nassr earlier in the competition. Azmoun finished the night with two assists.

The win ended Esteghlal's winning start. The Iranian side had won their first two matches and stay on six points, now in fifth place in the West table. Shabab Al-Ahli are second, behind Al-Ain only on goal difference.

It has been a strong few days for Shabab Al-Ahli. They had earlier beaten Al-Ittihad 2-1 in this competition, and they also won a President's Cup tie against Al-Ain 3-2 on October 22, after a 2-0 league win over the same opponents.

The result sets up a huge game next week. Shabab Al-Ahli face Saudi giants Al-Hilal in what will be their toughest test of the campaign so far. Al-Hilal lost to Al-Shamal on the same night, so they will be keen to bounce back.