TOKYO – You can still see the disappointment etched into the faces of the Sepahan players. Two-and-a-half weeks ago, the Iranians suffered a narrow
defeat to Japanese side Urawa Reds in the AFC Champions League final, missing out on what would have been the greatest triumph in the club’s history.
Despite that defeat, Sepahan still qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2007, and while they say that revenge is a dish best served cold, it will be piping hot if they make it through to the
quarter-finals and set up a repeat of the Champions League decider.
“We’re not here in Japan for a holiday,” said Sepahan’s Croatian coach Luka Bonacic. “It’s a great honour for us to be taking part in the Club World
Cup. We’ll give it everything we’ve got to get some good results. I hope we’ll get to play Urawa Reds again.”
Before they can think about a re-match, however, they will have to beat New Zealand outfit Waitakere United. The Iranians are very much the favourites to get through against the OFC O-League
winners, but Bonacic does not want his troops looking past their current opponents and concentrating on a potential revenge match with Urawa. “We need to be fully focused on Waitakere and take it
one match at a time. Not all of their players are professionals, but they can all certainly play good football.”
Story courtesy FIFA.com
