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Sports 09/04/2009 Bunyodkor 2-2 Sepahan: Ashurmatov saves Uzbeks
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Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Bakhitiyor Ashurmatov salvaged a point for Bunyodkor as the Uzbekistan League champions drew 2-2 with Iran’s Sepahan in an entertaining Group D encounter of the AFC Champions League at Jar Stadium on Wednesday.

Bunyodkor took the lead after 27 minutes through Shavkat Salomov before Seyed Hadi Aghily levelled the scores in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

The Iranians then took the lead after 61 minutes through Iraqi striker Emad Mohammed but Bunyodkor secured a share of the spoils thanks to a 75th minute strike from Ashurmatov.

The hosts controlled the game from the start and had their first chance after only six minutes when AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov fired an effort from the edge of the area Sepahan goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi had covered.

Sepahan produced their best chance in the early stages when Seyed Hadi Aghily headed a corner into the path of Hamid Azizzadeh, who struck a powerful volley from inside the area that was saved off the goal line by Shavkat Salomov.

But it was the home side who opened the scoring through Salomov just before the half hour mark after Djeparov chipped a pass over to Salomov and the striker hit a powerful volley from inside the area.

Bunyodkor looked to set to finish the half in the lead but they conceded a late equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time when Aghily levelled the score.

Moharam Navidkia hit a free kick that goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhurov could only push into the path of Aghily, who reacted to quickly to score from close range.

Sepahan should have taken the lead two minutes into the second half when Emad had time to place his shot but smashed it against the crossbar.

However, the Iraqi striker was not to be denied just after the hour mark when Ehsan Haji Safi played a throw in from the right that was cleared by Bunyodkor defenders but only as far as Emad and though his initial header was punched back into the danger zone by Murotjon Zukhurov, the forward picked up the loose ball before firing home.

The hosts went on the attack in an effort to snatch a late equaliser and that duly arrived with 15 minutes remaining when a well-worked free-kick from Rivaldo eventually fell for Server Djeparov, whose shot was saved by Rahman Ahmadi but Ashurmatov was in the right place to fire home.

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