Brazilian legend Rivaldo rolled back the years as he kept his nerve to score a penalty and put Uzbek side Bunyodkor into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. Their stunning 1-0 win away over Iranian powerhouse Piroozi late Wednesday came on a night when one of Rivaldo's former clubs Barcelona captured Europe's equivalent trophy with a 2-0 victory over holders Manchester United in Rome.
Rivaldo, world and European footballer of the year in 1999, made light of his 36 years to command the match and converted the penalty four minutes from the break after he went down under a challenge from two Iranian defenders. Piroozi's exit left no Iranian teams standing in the competition and prompted their Portuguese coach Nelo Vingada to confirm his departure. "This was my last match with Piroozi," said Vingada.
"I wrote a letter giving notice of my resignation two days ago. If you're looking for someone to blame (for the elimination) then blame me." It was a red letter day for Uzbek clubs as Bunyodkor - last year's semi-finalists - were joined by domestic rivals Pakhtakor who also enjoyed a notable away success with a 2-1 victory over Saudi side Ettifaq. Ettifaq's prolific Ghanaian striker Prince Tagoe opened the scoring but while they dominated they suffered from wayward finishing and Pakhtakor stormed back with two late goals to secure their place in the last eight.
Indeed, they left it almost to the final whistle with a stoppage time freekick by substitute Alexander Geynrikh keeping them in the competition. Their coach Victor Djailov conceded that things would only get harder from now on. "The quarter-finals will be harder because there will be strong teams from Qatar and Saudi Arabia as well as the quartet from the eastern zone," he said. Al Ittihad also came from behind to win an all-Saudi clash as they beat Al Shabab 2-1.
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