Saipa battle back for draw

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AFC - Former World Player of the Year Rivaldo scored on his AFC Champions League debut for Kuruvchi (Bunyodkor) but Saipa twice recovered from deficits to hold the Uzbek side to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.

The Brazilian struck in the 19th minute to restore his side’s lead just a minute after Iman Razaghirad’s powerful header had cancelled out Jose Luis Villanueva’s opening goal.

But Kianoush Rahmati’s deflected free-kick late in the first half brought Saipa back on level terms.

Villanueva hit the woodwork in the second half while Kuruvchi keeper Pavel Bugalo made good saves to deny Jalal Hosseini and Traore, setting up an interesting return match in Tashkent in a weeks’ time.

After a cagey start, the game burst into life in the 12th minute when the visitors took the lead.

Server Djeparov swung over a corner from the right and Jasur Hasanov out-jumped goalkeeper Vahid Sheikhveisi to flick the ball on to Luizao, who crashed his effort against the right post.

Villaneuva was first to the rebound, firing into the roof of the net from point blank range.

The home side were back on level terms six minutes later after good work from Omid Sharifnasab, who floated over an inviting cross from the right flank that was headed into the net by Iman Razaghirad

But with the Saipa fans still celebrating, Kuruvchi quickly regained the lead a minute later. Rivaldo flicked on to Villaneuva, whose quick return pass released the Brazilian who strolled through before stroking the ball past Sheikhveisi.

Rivaldo was then presented with an opportunity when Kuruvchi were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Saipa box on the half-hour but his weak effort did little to trouble Sheikhveisi

The Iranians levelled the score with a fortuitous equaliser in the 39th minute.

Rahmati’s weak free-kick from 25 metres should have caused little trouble for Bugalo but the ball took a wicked deflection off a defender, wrong-footing the Kuruvchi goalkeeper and rolling agonisingly into the bottom right corner of the net.

Villaneuva nearly restored the visitors’ lead 10 minutes into the second half when he gathered a cross from Djuraev and fired a shot that hit the base of the left upright and ricocheted across the face of goal into the grateful arms of Sheikhveisi.

Saipa had the better of the chances in the second half with Mohammad Parvin firing a free-kick narrowly wide in the 64th minute before Bugalo tipped over a Hosseini header 12 minutes later.

In stoppage time, Hossein Kaebi rolled a shot across the face of goal before Bugalo made a brilliant save to keep out an Issa Traore header in what was the final effort of the game.

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Littbarski: we stood up to the test

Saipa coach Pierre Littbarski felt that his team stood up well to the challenge of Kuruvchi on Wednesday as the two sides drew 2-2 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash at the Azadi Stadium.

The Uzbek side entered the tie as favourites and twice took the lead in the first half with goals by Chilean striker Jose Luis Villanueva and former World Player of the Year Rivaldo.

But those strikes were cancelled out by Iman Razaghirad’s powerful header and Kianoush Rahmati’s deflected free-kick which leaves both sides with plenty to play for in Tashkent next week.

“I think that we saw a good game from both sides tonight,” said Littbarski.

“Kuruvchi were much better in the first half but I think that in the second half, we were actually dominating especially in the last 10 minutes.

“We had our chances to win but 2-2 is still a good score against them,” the German added.

“Kuruvchi are a very good team and Rivaldo is a fantastic player but in the second half, we controlled him much better and we defended much better.

“The second leg will be difficult for us. But I think that the condition of the team was getting better as the game went on and we created better chances so we still have a good chance to go through.”

Saipa skipper Ebrahim Sadeghi echoed his coach’s thoughts.

“We did not know what to expect from Kuruvchi at the beginning so we were a bit too cautious in the first half and I think that we didn’t play well,” the midfielder said.

“But as the game went on, we gained a better understanding of their style of play. We grew in confidence and belief and proved a good match for them.

“Of course we had our chances to find a winning goal but we were unlucky not to score again.

“But our performance tonight certainly gives us a lot of hope for the return game.”