Shahrdari Sirjan edge Gokulam Kerala in AFC Women's Club Championship

Afsaneh Chatrenoor scored the only goal of the match.

Shahrdari Sirjan defeated Sree Gokulam Kerala FC 1-0 in the AFC Women’s Club Championship 2021 at the Aqaba Development Corporate Stadium, Jordan on Wednesday.

After a goalless first half, Iran’s Shahrdari Sirjan broke the deadlock just after the hour mark through Afsaneh Chatrenoor’s superb free-kick to seal the three points, with the goal coming minutes after Gokulam Kerala goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan had been sent off.

The result puts Shahrdari Sirjan - who defeated Uzbekistan's FC Bunyodkor FC 2-1 in their opener - on six points and in a comfortable position going into their final match against Jordan’s Amman Club on Saturday, while India’s Gokulam Kerala will play for pride against Uzbekistan’s FC Bunyodkor.

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Gokulam Kerala needed to win against Shahrdari Sirjan following their 2-1 defeat to Amman Club on Matchday One, and the Indian side showed promise early in the match.

They played a high pressing game from the start with Manisha losing her marker down the left flank but her cross was easily cleared by Shahrdari Sirjan goalkeeper Arefeh Kazemi.

Shahrdari Sirjan continued to soak up the pressure with Gokulam Kerala’s Susan Ama Duah coming close in the seventh minute when she angled her header straight into the arms of Kazemi.

Kazemi was in the thick of action again 10 minutes later when she sprinted off her line to foil an advancing Elshaddai Acheampong and the shot stopper continued to frustrate Gokulam Kerala, saving Win Theingi Tun’s effort moments later.

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Shahrdari Sirjan barely troubled the Gokulam Kerala defence and their best effort came at the half hour mark when Afsaneh Chatrenoor blasted her free-kick above the bar as the score remained 0-0 going into the break.

Both sides continued to toil in front of goal in the opening minutes of the second half with Duah failing to find the target from inside the six-yard-box off Win Theingi Tun's corner, while Gokulam Kerala goalkeeper Chauhan easily saved Zahra Alizadeh’s long-range effort.

Disaster struck Gokulam Kerala in the 65th minute when Chauhan’s poor challenge on Alizadeh just above the box saw the custodian sent off.

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That shifted the momentum in Shahrdari Sirjan’s favour with Chatrenoor breaking the deadlock four minutes later when she curled her free-kick beyond the reach of substitute goalkeeper Shreya.

Gokulam Kerala surged forward in a bid to salvage their hopes and almost levelled the score in the 88th minute when Acheampong sent Grace Danmei through on goal but the midfielder smashed her effort against the post as Shahrdari Sirjan held on for the win.

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