Iran’s Esteghlal books place in ACL last 16

TASHKENT,May 17(MNA) – Iran’s Esteghlal football team defeated Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan 2-0 and booked its place in the AFC Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. Goran Jerkovic put the visiting team into the lead just 10 minutes into the match. Afterward, Nasaf Qarshi maintained possession on Esteghlal’s half but its strikers didn’t take advantage of their chances. Mojtaba Jabbari converted a penalty kick five minutes into the second half and extended Esteghlal’s lead. Esteghlal will play Sepahan also from Iran on May 22 in round of 16. Persepolis, another Iranian representative, is scheduled to face AlIttihad of Saudi Arabia in the same round on May 23.