3/8/2006
afcchampionsleague.com

DOHA: Powered by two artistic goals by ageless Ali Daei, Saba Battery on Wednesday eased past Al Gharafa to start their AFC Champions League 2006 campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Qatari champions.

Saba Battery, who are appearing in the AFC Champions League for the first time, relied on the brilliance of Daei to win their first Group C match in convincing fashion in front of a small crowd waving the Iran national flag and dozens of Al Gharafa fans.

Daei, the former Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin striker, played the entire 90 minutes and lived up to his high billing by firing two second-half goals to bring three points for his young club.

Clad in white jerseys over black shorts, Saba Battery thought they had broken the deadlock by finding the net through Alen Advic, but the strike was disallowed for offside by Saudi Arabian referee Nasser Rashid in the 15th minute.

In the 34th minute, Al Gharafa's Sergio Ricardo hoodwinked two opposing defenders, but the striker lost his footing with only goalkeeper Almir Tolja to beat from close range.

In what could be described the best opportunity to score in the first 35 minutes of the match, Saba Battery's Advic failed to beat Al Gharafa's goalkeeper Amar Al Kabbi from close range.

Mohammed Navazi, patrolling the left flank, chipped in a pass to an unmarked Advic, whose header was parried away by Al Kabbi with his left hand.

In an attempt to finish the first half on a high, Daei fired a long-range missile, but his shot swung away to safety, inches from the Al Gharafa post.

Soon after the start of the second half, however, Daei scored the first of his two goals within a space of five minutes.

The 37-year-old scored the first from a free-kick just outside the Al Gharafa box. In what the 47th minute of the match, Daei fired a swerving shot through a gap in the Al Gharafa wall, the ball curving past Al Gharafa goalkeeper Al Kaabi.

Five minutes later, Daei blasted a long-range missile, which hit the crossbar before bouncing over the goal-line and spinning back to Al Gharafa's goalkeeper. The linesman acted quickly and correctly, however, and declared Daei's effort a goal.

From there Al Gharafa fell to pieces, with Othman El Assas picking up a second yellow card in the 60th minute to leave his team down to 10 men and, with six minutes left in the game, Ricardo was given his marching orders.