AFC.com
Pakhtakor FC are hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 16 years when they face Persepolis in the 2020 AFC Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
The 12-time Uzbek champions reached the competition’s final four in the first two editions of the AFC Champions League in 2003 and 2004, but have since been unable to match this achievement; their best result being a quarter-final appearance in 2009.
Pakhtakor’s return to the quarter-finals saw them top Group B of the 2020 AFC Champions League with an unbeaten record and only one goal conceded following the annulment of Al Hilal SFC’s results.
At the heart of their strong defensive record is the centre-back pairing of club captain Egor Krimets (pictured below) and fellow Uzbekistan international veteran Anzur Ismailov.
“The quarter-final is a very important match, we do not know when will our next chance to be in this stage again come, so this is our chance,” said Krimets who has been at the club since 2011.
“We know Persepolis are good in set-pieces, so it is important to be cautious with them. Our aim is not to give them such chances to score goals, so we will try not to commit many fouls near our penalty box.
“Ismailov and I played in the national team together for so long and he joined us at Pakhtakor this year, so our understanding is important, especially in such a difficult game.
"But against Persepolis, we are not only being tested in our defensive solidity, but also in team character, how we can play in attack and build up against such a strong team.”
Persepolis, on the other hand, are in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals for the third time in four years, having reached the semi-finals in 2017 then the final in 2018, losing to Al Hilal SFC and Kashima Antlers respectively.
Wednesday’s game comes a day before the fifth anniversary of the death of former Persepolis captain Hadi Norouzi.
The attacking midfielder spent seven years at the club and had just been named captain when he passed away after a heart attack on October 1, 2015. Head coach Yahya Golmohammadi, himself a former Persepolis player, wants his players to win the quarter-final tie in memory of Norouzi.
“First of all, I would like to wish a quick recovery to Pakhtakor head coach Shota Arveladze,” said Golmohammadi on his opposite number who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
"Our thoughts are with the family of Norouzi on the memory of his passing. The players want to put in a fight tomorrow and dedicate the win to his soul."
“We worked really hard to reach this stage, we faced Al Sadd who are one of the best teams in the competition and it was an exhausting game. But we are well motivated and in good spirits. Pakhtakor had one more day to rest and they will be coming at us like machines. We will need to consume more energy and fight in this game, but hopefully we can win and reach the next stage.”
Persepolis have never beaten Pakhtakor in three previous encounters in the AFC Champions League. The Uzbeks won 1-0 in the group stage of the 2002-03 edition, pipping Persepolis to the top of Group D thanks to that win. In 2019, they were again pitted together in Group D and played out a 1-1 draw at Azadi Stadium before Pakhtakor won 1-0 in Tashkent, but both teams were eliminated at the group stage.
Persepolis FC (IRN) v Pakhtakor (UZB)
Venue: Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
Kick-off: September 30, 20:45 (UTC +3)