Sorkh Poshan finish first half unbeaten with 4–2 win over Omar Zawak

Sorkh Poshan Khafi completed nine wins from nine Afghanistan Champions League matches by beating Omar Zawak 4–2 on 7 October. They lead by eight points before the competition resumes on 16 October.

Sorkh Poshan Khafi enter the second half of the Afghanistan Champions League on 27 points after four different scorers secured victory over fellow Herat club Omar Zawak.

Yaser Safi opened the scoring in the 11th minute and Yar Mohammad Zakarkhel doubled the lead a minute later, according to Sofascore’s match record.

Samir Samandari pulled a goal back for Omar Zawak in first-half stoppage time. Ali Ramezani restored Sorkh Poshan’s two-goal advantage a minute later, leaving the score at 3–1 at the interval.

Farzad Ataee made it 4–1 in the 50th minute. Hatim Sherdel scored Omar Zawak’s second in the 77th, but the match ended 4–2 at Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.

The result gives Sorkh Poshan 25 goals scored and three conceded after nine matches, according to the table maintained by Karel Stokkermans for RSSSF. Defending champions Abu Muslim Farah and Omar Zawak both have 19 points; Ariana Khost are fourth on 17.

The eight-point gap also reflects Abu Muslim’s 2–0 defeat by Toofan Herat on the same day. Both of Sorkh Poshan’s nearest challengers therefore finished the first half without adding to their totals.

There are nine rounds still to play in the ten-team competition. Sorkh Poshan’s earlier league wins include a 2–0 victory over Abu Muslim and a 6–0 defeat of Istiqlal Kabul.

The AFF said on 9 October that the second half will begin on 16 October, bringing forward the planned 24 October restart. The federation attributed the change to requests from participating clubs and Ariana Television’s broadcast schedule. It had originally allowed the longer break for rest and player recruitment.

Sources: Sofascore; RSSSF; AFF; Ariana photograph.