3/8/ 2006
AFCChampionsleague.com

TEHRAN – Foolad bounced back from an embarrassing domestic defeat at the hands of Pas at the weekend to hammer Kuwait's Al Qadisiya 6-0 in their AFC Champions League opener on Wednesday evening.

The Iranian champions were thrashed 7-1 by the 2004 winners of the Azadegan league but proved they were in a different class to Al Qadisiya with three goals in each half in Tehran's Dastgerdi Stadium to take the win in Group A of this year’s competition.

The Kuwaitis had no answer for the powerful Iranians and, just 10 minutes after the opening whistle, Foolad started the scoring after winning a corner, which Meyssam Soliemani delivered into the center and Ashgar Rameshgar comfortably netted the opening goal.

Al Qadisiya's midfield struggled to control the pace of the game and, in the 27th minute, former Iran national team winger Mojahed Khaziravi made his way past the Syrian defence before rolling the ball to Soleimani and the 24-year-old midfielder doubled his side’s lead.

National team defender Ali Badavi made it 3-0 with 34 minutes on the clock with a well-taken free kick as Foolad completely mastered the opening 45 minutes.

Al Qadisiya coach Mohammad Ibrahim made two changes at the start of the second half, bringing off midfield duo Nawaf Al Mutairi and Lucio and replacing them with Seydou Traore and Ahmad Al Buloushi.

But the changes made little difference and 10 minutes after the break the influential Hossein Kaebi took the ball past two defenders before setting up Khaziravi and the former Esteghlal man netted his side's fourth.

Foolad's thirst for goals remained unquenched and just before the hour mark the Al Qadisiya defence failed to clear Rameshgar's powerful shot before Nader Ahmadi struck after Kuwaiti goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi fumbled.

With 18 minutes to go, Foolad completed the rout, Pejman Montazeri striking to give Nenad Nikolic's side the perfect start to the campaign.

Match Photos:

Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
Set 4
Set 5
Set 6