Incisive Kaveh Rezaei dazzles as Esteghlal FC escape FC Lokomotiv with hard-fought draw

 

A late goal by Kaveh Rezaei ensured Esteghlal from the Islamic Republic of Iran took a point from their meeting in Tashkent with 2016 quarter-finalists Lokomotiv on Tuesday as the Uzbek side kept their hopes of a place in the next phase of this year’s AFC Champions League alive.

Marat Bikmaev gave Lokomotiv the lead 13 minutes into the game when he slid the ball home following Jaloliddin Masharipov’s ball over the Esteghlal defence as the home team controlled proceedings.

But Rezaei struck three minutes from time to secure a point for Alireza Mansourian’s side, who move on to seven points from four matches and maintain a three-point gap over the club from Tashkent with two games remaining.

FC Lokomotiv 1:1 FC Esteghlal

Goals: Marat Bikmaev 13 -  Kaveh Rezaei 87

FC Lokomotiv: Ignatiy Nesterov, Boburbek Yuldashov (Shershod Fayziev), Kakhi Makharadze, Ikromjon Alibaev, Marat Bikmaev, Sardor Mirzayev, Islom Tukhtakhujaev, Oleg Zoteev, Mohamed Kone, Diyorjon Turapov (Kuvondik Ruziev 64), Jaloliddin Masharipov (Gnohere Krizo 85)

FC Esteghlal: Mehdi Rahmati, Robson, Omid Ebrahimi, Kaveh Rezaei, Farshid Bagheri, Ali Ghorbani (Behnam Barzay 83), Milad Zakipour, Vouria Ghafouri (Khosro Heydari 62), Mohsen Karimi (Jaber Ansari 58), Farshid Esmaeili, Padovani

Yellow cards: Kakhi Makharadze 39, Shershod Fayziev 90+3' - Ali Ghorbani 19

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