MUSCAT: Two-time Asian champions Esteghlal of Iran eased to their first win of the 2017 AFC Champions League after securing a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun in Group A on Monday. Esteghlal took the lead inside a minute at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex after the Al Taawoun backline failed to clear a long throw-in from the right and the ball eventually fell kindly to Kaveh Rezaei, who finished through a crowd of defenders from eight yards. The Iran side doubled their lead with 20 minutes remaining when Al Taawoun again were unable to clear their lines following a long free-kick into the box and, after Jaber Ansari mishit, Mohsen Karimi was on hand to finish from six yards. Omid Ebrahimi’s accurate delivery was then headed home by Brazilian defender Leandro Padovani with two minutes remaining to leave all four teams in the table on three points after Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv defeated Al Ahli of the UAE 2-0 in Monday’s other Group A fixture.
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