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Sepahan progress in Club World Cup

Emad Mohammed scored two goals in the first five minutes yesterday, leading Iran's Sepahan to a 3-1 win over New Zealand's Waitakere United in the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Emad opened the scoring with a header in the third minute and doubled the lead less than a minute later at Tokyo's National Stadium.

"We were the more experienced team," said Sepahan coach Luka Bonacic. "We got two early goals and then the rest of the match was easy."

The Club World Cup features the champions of FIFA's continental club competitions. Italian giants AC Milan, South American champions Boca Juniors of Argentina, African champions Etoile Sahel of Tunisia, CONCACAF champions CF Pachuca of Mexico and Asian winners Urawa Reds are the other clubs participating.

Abdul Wahab Abu Al Hail gave Sepahan a 3-0 lead with a long-range blast in the 47th minute.

Waitakere got one back in the 74th minute when Darren Bazeley's curling free kick from the left side went in off a Sepahan defender.

The goal energized the Kiwis who desperately tried to get back in the match in the final 10 minutes and had several good scoring chances.

Oceania champions Waitakere, an amateur club formed less than three years ago, qualified for the tournament by beating Fijian champions Ba in the O-League final in April.

The New Zealand part-timers are an eclectic mix of teachers, bankers, salesmen and hod-carriers were under no illusions about the task facing them in Japan but remained confident.

"We've got players who can handle the pressure -- not just soccer but in their normal jobs. They're not bad boys I can tell you," said Waitakere coach Chris Milicich

Yesterday's result means Sepahan advance to the Monday's quarter-finals to take on Japan's Urawa Reds in a rematch of the final of the AFC Champions League last month, which Urawa won 3-1 on aggregate.

Since Japan's Reds are the current Asian champions, Sepahan, the runner-up in the AFC, are included in the tournament.

Brazil's Internacional beat European powerhouse Barcelona 1-0 in last year's final.

AC Milan and Boca Juniors join the competition at the semi-final stage.
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