TOKYO – Waitakere United have been eliminated from the FIFA Club World Cup after losing 3-1 to Sepahan at the Tokyo National Stadium in front of
25,000 fans. Waitakere got off to the worst possible start conceding two goals within the first four minutes from Ridha all but settled the result leaving the OFC O-League champions facing a
mountain to climb in the second-half.
That mountain resembled Everest when a long range shot from Aboheil slipped through the arms of Simon Eaddy to make it 3-0 after 47 minutes.
Waitakere United spent most of the next ten minutes in a daze as Sepahan took total control of the match and it wasn’t until the final twenty minutes that the New Zealand club came into its
own.
Darren Bazeley’s 74th minute free-kick deflected off defender Aghily and through the arms of Savari for a bizarre goal that changed the complexion
of the match almost completely with Waitakere United creating several more chances from set-plays and aerial balls that Savari was never completely comfortable with.
Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich lamented the awful start but described the final twenty minutes as proof his club deserved its place alongside
the world’s big boys.
“We gave away two silly goals at the start and then another silly one in the second-half. I don’t know why we’ve started so badly at the start of
each half and it’s just not good enough.
But in the last twenty minutes we really came into our own and showed we belong here. We scored one goal and could have got two or three others
later on. I’m very proud of my team’s performance,” Milicich said.
Milicich also dismissed speculation that the weather conditions had played a significant role in the team’s poor start to the match.
Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic was already focussing on his club’s next match against a familiar foe and felt his side was always in control of the
match with Waitakere United.
“We are the professional side and they are not, so it was comfortable for us. I am glad for the opportunity to face Urawa Reds again,” Bonacic
said.
The winner of the Sepahan vs. Urawa Reds match will meet AC Milan in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals.
FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP – JAPAN 2007
SEPAHAN vs. WAITAKERE UNITED
QUARTER-FINAL QUALIFICATION MATCH
TOKYO NATIONAL STADIUM
JAPAN
07/12/07
SEP: 22. M. SAVARI; 5. H. AGHILY; 7. F. BAHADORANI; 8. M. BANGAR; 9. H.JAFARI; 12. A. ABOLHEIL; 13. M. KARIMI; 17. J. MUJURI; 20.
E. RIDHA; 23. M.SEYED SALEHI; 28. E. HAJY SAFI.
SUBS: 1. A. MOHAMMADI; 3. R. TALABEH; 4. M. NAVIDKIA; 6. J. AKBARI; 11. H. KAZEMI; 14. K. BELLO; 15. A. SADEGHZADEH; 21. S. BAYAT;
25. E. LOVEINIAN; 26. J. ALIMOHAMMADI; 27. A. JAFARI; 30. H. PAPI.
COACH: Luka BONACIC (CRO)
YELLOW CARDS: 28. E. HAJY SAFI 46′, 11. H.KAZEMI 89′
RED CARDS: None
GOALS: 20. E.RIDHA 3′, 4′, 12. A. ABOHEIL 47′
WAI: 22. Simon EADDY; 2. Jonathan PERRY; 4. Matt CUNNEEN; 5. Danny HAY; 6. Darren BAZELEY; 9. Benjamin TOTORI; 11. Neil SYKES; 15.
Christopher BALE (7. Jason HAYNE 63′); 16. Neil EMBLEN; 21. Graham PEARCE (8. Commins MENAPI 85′); 33. Paul SEAMAN (13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC 90′).
SUBS: 1. Richard GILLESPIE;10. Allan PEARCE; 14. Hoani EDWARDS; 17. Jake BUTLER; 20. Jason ROWLEY; 27. WEBB; 28. Arran
ROWLEY.
COACH: Chris MILICICH (NZL)
YELLOW CARDS: 6. Darren BAZELEY 16′, 11. Neil SYKES 31′, 21. Graham PEARCE 84′
RED CARDS: None
GOALS: 6. Darren BAZELEY 74′
TEXT COMMENTARY
1′ – Match kicks off as Waitakere United carry Oceania hopes at the FIFA Club World Cup
3′ – GOAL! Sepahan are in front after barely three minutes as Emad MOHAMMED heads past Simon EADDY with Waitakere United appealing
for offside
4′ – GOAL! Sepahan are doing it easily – a long ball into the Waitakere United penalty area Jonathan PERRY handballs but the ball
skids through and Emad MOHAMMAD slips an easy finish past EADDY to make it 2-0.
7′ – Waitakere United get a free-kick but it comes to nothing
16′ – YELLOW CARD – Darren BAZELEY is yellow carded for taking a free-kick too soon
18′ – Neil EMBLEN tries to play Benji TOTORI through but the Solomon Islander cannot outpace this fast Sepahan back four
19′ – Waitakere free-kick ball is punched clear by Savari after a clash with Danny HAY
20′ – Sepahan are doing it easily as Waitakere United struggle to come to terms with the faster pace and skill of the professional team from
Iran
20′- Simon EADDY picks up a backpass from one of his defenders and now its a free-kick to Sepahan
22′- Sepahan free-kick Mohammad rifles it at the Waitakere United wall and it is cleared for a corner
23′ – Corner is cleared but now its a Sepahan long throw from Hagy Safi and its panic stations in the United defence before the ball is cleared
25′ – Terrible delivery and Sepahan make a fast break but the cross is too close to EADDY and the United keeper claims comfortably – but it was panic stations there for a
moment
27′ – Neil EMBLEN shoots from long distance but no trouble for Savari
31′- YELLOW CARD for Neil SYKES and a free-kick for Sepahan but United survive
33′ – Danny HAY collides with Mahmoud KARIMI and the Iranian striker receives attention but is apparently fine
34′ – EMBLEN wins a header but TOTORI cannot pick up the loose ball
35′- Some inelegant defending by Waitakere United results in a throw-in for Sepahan
36′- SEPAHAN stroke the ball about with nonchalance with Waitakere United chasing shadows
37′ – Jonathan PERRY finds Benjamin TOTORI who dribbles past three players but fires a wild shot high and wide – the crowd show their appreciation…but there was no real
danger
39′ – Waitakere United get a cross into the Sepahan area from Darren BAZELEY but SAVARI is equal to the task
40′- Sepahan are in cruise mode with 5 minutes left in the first-half. Sepahan have had 71% of possession with Waitakere United just 29% – its looking grim for the OFC O-League
champions
43′ – Waitakere show signs of hope from set-plays with TOTORI a constant threat but Sepahan are too strong for the New Zealand team
45′- Sepahan will be very happy with their 2-0 lead as the referee adds 1 minute of time added on
+1′ time added on
HALF-TIME: SEP 2 WAI 0
46′ – The match restarts as Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez blows his whistle with Waitakere United needing to do something very special to get back into this match
47′ – YELLOW CARD Hajy Safi is booked for a strong challenge on Paul SEAMAN
49′ – GOAL! Disaster for Simon EADDY as ABOLHEIL’s rasping long range shot is dropped into the back of the net to make it 3-0
50′- SAVARI saves from a United free-kick and its a corner for United but it comes to nothing
52′- Waitakere United’s confidence is shattered following the third goal and its difficult to see a way back for the West Aucklanders
53′- A long ball finds Karimi and he takes a wonderful first touch and BAZELEY looks as if he may have brought the Iraqi down but no penalty!
54′- Waitakere United earn a free-kick – can the Aucklanders get a goal?!
55′- Neil SYKES free-kick finds Danny HAY but the header lands on top of the Sepahan goal net
56′- Sepahan are starting to produce some party tricks outside the Waitakere United penalty area earning a corner
60′- SUBSTITUTION 25. LOVEINIAN in, 23. SEYED SALEHI out for Sepahan
63′- SUBSTITUTION 15. Christopher BALE out, 7. Jason HAYNE in for Waitakere United
64′ – Sepahan create a wonderful attacking move but the final shot is high and wide
68′ – SUBSTITUTION 13. Mahmoud KARIMI out, 11. Hamzi KAZIMI in for Sepahan
70′ – Attendance at the Tokyo National Stadium is 25,000
71′- KAZEMI attempts an acrobatic bicycle kick but his powerful effort flies well wide
72′ – BAZELEY’S cross to the far post finds Neil EMBLEN but his header flies high, wide and handsome
73′- Benjamin TOTORI’s 22m shot after an EMBLEN lay-off fizzes past the Sepahan post – no mean effort that wins approval from the crowd
74′- GOAL! BAZELEY’S free-kick finds Danny HAY the ball bobbles clear and SAVARI bungles it and Waitakere United score!
75′- Simon EADDY makes a great save from a close range shot
76′- Sepahan fire a shot wide of EADDY’S left-hand post
78′- Great build-up by Waitakere United with BAZELEY, EMBLEN, TOTORI and HAYNE all involved with EMBLEN’S header going into the arms of SAVARI
79′- Free-kick to Waitakere United with Neil EMBLEN shaping to shoot
80′- EMBLEN’S shot is blocked by the Sepahan wall and cleared then Jonathan PERRY smashes a shot at SAVARI who produces a great save coneding a corner
83′- BAZELEY with a corner and CUNNEEN shot is blocked and then cleared and Sepahan are in trouble for the first time in this match
84′ – Corner for Waitakere United SYKES takes it with EMBLEN heading goalwards but its cleared by Sepahan
84′- YELLOW CARD Graham PEARCE for a strong challenge on a Sepahan player
85′- Great run by TOTORI and his cross finds EMBLEN who shoots weakly off target at the near post
85′- SUBSTITUTION 21. Graham PEARCE out, 8. Commins MENAPI in for Waitakere United
86′- EMBLEN lay-off for TOTORI who controls the ball well but shoots wide from ten yards out – if only TOTORI had been more composed!
87′- SUBSTITUTION 14. BELLO in, 20. RIDHA out for Sepahan
89′- YELLOW CARD 11. KAZEMI for simulation
90′- SUBSTITUTION 13. Daniel KOPRIVCIC in, 33. Paul SEAMAN out for Waitakere United
+3′ time added on
FULL TIME: SEP 3, WAI 1