Tehran Times Sports Desk

TOKYO, Nov. 13 -- Zob Ahan suffered a frustrating defeat against South Korean Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the final match of the AFC Champions League.
Zob Ahan, who is the Iranian league leader, had a good run in the event, but lost to Seongnam 3-1 and the dream of winning the title for the first time didn’t come true.
Sasa Ognenovski put the Koreans into the lead in the 29th minute. Zob Ahan put Seongnam under pressure but fell short on the scoreboard.
Cho Byung Kuk scored Seongnam’s second goal eight minutes into the second half. Zob Ahan didn’t give up at all and pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari opened the goal.
Kim Cheol Ho rubbed salt into Zob Ahan’s wound with seven minutes remaining to the match.
Pas is the last Iranian team which was crowned Asian champions in 1993, although fellow countrymen Sepahan did reach the 2007 Champions League final where they went down 3-1 over two legs to Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan.