DOHA (Qatar): Uzbek champions Pakhtakor face Iran’s Esteghlal in the second match of AFC Champions League Round of 16 at Al Janoub Stadium on Saturday.
Pakhtakor returned to the knockout stage for the first time since 2010 after topping Group B with 10 points. The annulment of Al Hilal SFC’s results meant Pakhtakor had secured their place in the next round before kicking off their Matchday Six win over Shahr Khodro.
Despite failing to make it to the competition twice in the past three years, Pakhtakor hold the record for most appearances in the competition amongst Uzbek clubs with 14 times. In fact only Al Hilal, Al Ain and Al Sadd amongst West Asia sides have played in more editions.
Iranian giants Esteghlal continued their revival in recent years by reaching the knockout stage for the third time in four years after finishing second in Group A. Head coach Majid Namjoo-Motalgh’s men had to dig deep to secure their qualification courtesy of a Matchday Six 3-0 win over group winners Al Ahli Saudi FC that helped them edge Iraq’s Al Shorta on goal difference.
Esteghlal’s best moments in continental football date long before the launch of the AFC Champions League. The Iranian side won the Asian Club Championship in 1970 and 1990-91 and finished runners up in 1991 and 1998-99, but since the 2002-03 rebranding of the competition, 11 previous appearances for Esteghlal have produced only one semi-final appearance. (Source: AFC)
