Widespread Reaction to Brilliance in South Korea; / Asian Champion's Nightmare: Iran!

One day after Esteghlal's major victory, an Iranian figure shone again in the AFC Champions League Elite.

According to "Verzeh Se", Johor Darul Tazeem defeated South Korea's Pohang with a score of 2-0 in an away match of the Asia Elite League. Marcus Guilherme scored both goals for Malaysia, but an important part of the road to this victory was paved by Shahab Zahedi. The Iranian striker helped his team in two decisive scenes of the match, first by pressing on the opponent's defender and then with a precise pass.

Zahedi, who was Johor's top striker in this match, troubled the host's defense from the very first half. In the 15th minute, he got a good opportunity to open the Pohang goal by penetrating the space behind the defenders and hit the opposite corner, but the ball went out of the side of the goal so that Johor's first serious chance did not turn into a goal.

MK Sports' report of this match emphasizes the intense pressure of the Malaysian team. When starting Pohang's attacks, Johor pressed with a large number of players in the opponent's field, and sometimes two or three players quickly approached the player with the ball. The host had a hard time overcoming this pressure, and consecutive mistakes in sending passes took away the opportunity to advance from this team.

In the 32nd minute, Shahab's presence in the penalty area led to another important scene of the game. The Pohang goalkeeper collided with the Iranian attacker while deflecting a pass from the left side, and the ball then reached Kevin Medina to open the goal with a header. However, the referee announced Zahedi's foul on the goalkeeper and Johor's goal was disallowed.

The pressure of the Iranian attacker in the 42nd minute had a more important consequence for Pohang. Jun Minkwang, the home team's captain, tried to control the ball with his shoulder under Zahedi's pressure, but the ball went out of his control. The Korean defender raised his foot to block the ball again and collided with Shahab so that the referees went to VAR to review this scene.

The final decision was to call a free kick right behind the penalty area and send off captain Pohang directly. The Korean report clearly describes the home defender's mistake as the result of Zahedi's pressure. Johor missed a goal from a free kick and the first half ended goalless, but Pohang had to continue the match with one man less.

Shahab was at the center of events at the beginning of the second half. In the 49th minute, in the crowded space in front of the Pohang penalty area, he found a suitable path to send a pass and sent the ball through the defenders to Guilherme. The Brazilian player also scored Johor's first goal by using this deep pass, so that the impact of the Iranian striker could be recorded this time with an assist in the result of the match.

In the 89th minute, Gilhermeh opened the home team's goal for the second time and confirmed Johor's 2-0 victory. The victory, whose goals were registered in the name of the Brazilian player, and Shahab also had a significant contribution to it with a direct role in dismissing the opponent's captain and scoring the first goal.