3/21/2006
afcchampionsleague.com

TEHRAN – Saba Battery captain Ali Daei has vowed to “crush” Wednesday’s opponents Al Karama in the AFC Champions League.

Daei was in devastating form on Matchday One when he scored both goals in Saba’s 2-0 win over Al Gharafa of Qatar a fortnight ago.

And although their Iranian Premier League form has been patchy, Daei, who turned 37 on Tuesday, is confident of dispatching Saba’s Syrian opponents.

“We have been practicing hard to take all three points out of this home match,” said the international goalscoring record holder.

“My teammates and I are all totally poised for tomorrow’s encounter, we will only go on the pitch to crush the Syrian side.”

A handful of Daei’s team-mates have previous experience of the AFC Champions League, among them former Iran defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, who forms a formidable defensive barrier with national team regular Yahya Golmohammadi.

“Overcoming Al Gharafa in the opening match has obviously boosted our morale to a high degree,” Bakhtiarizadeh said.

“I’m well-acquainted with the ACL and I can predict that we will progress to second stage as our group’s top team.

“Fortunately, we have both knowledgeable technical staff and sharp players, that’s why we are aiming at winning the ACL and IPL titles along side the Hazfi Cup.

“It’s seems quite natural to wish to win the ACL with such team members. We are both physically and spiritually prepared.”

But Bakhtiarizadeh struck a note of caution ahead of the match with Al Karama, who got their ACL campaign off to a winning start over Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates.

“Of course we would never underestimate our Syrian rivals, knowing that they have overcome Al Wahda in the first match,” he added.

“We are well-informed about how dangerous our opponent is. Like other Arabian players, they are physically strong and cover all parts of the pitch with their swift movement.”

With Daei turning back the clock, winger Mohammad Navazi supplying dangerous centres from the right flank and his defence looking resilient, Saba boss Mohammad Hossein Ziaei is hopeful his team can make a little piece of history.

“We hope to be the first Iranian team to advance to ACL semi-final stage,” he said. “We still have the chance of success in the ACL, the Hazfi Cup and even the IPL, but at the moment defeating Al Karama is at the centre of our attention.

“We want to keep our morale high enough to win all three titles.”