Indian soccer team refuses to travel to Iran for game because of security fears

KOLKATA, India (AP) — India’s Mohun Bagan Tremendous Giants has refused to journey to Iran to play Tractor SC in an Asian Champions League Two match scheduled for Wednesday due to the escalating safety issues in the nation and area.

The Kolkata membership requested the Asian Soccer Confederation to reschedule the match, which was as a result of happen within the northwestern metropolis of Tabriz. The groups play within the continent’s second-tier competitors.

The group launched an announcement on Tuesday that stated: “The matter will likely be referred to the related AFC Committees with additional updates to be communicated in the end.”

Within the top-tier Asian Champions League Elite, four-time champion Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia made it two victories from two with a 5-0 win over Al-Shorta of Iraq.

Marcos Leonardo, signed from Benfica as cowl for the injured Neymar, opened the scoring after 11 minutes. Aleksandar Mitrovic made it 2-0 4 minutes later. Salem Al-Dawsari, Nasser Al-Dawsari and Mohamed Kanno every scored within the second half.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s Al-Gharafa of Qatar defeated Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates 4-2.

The 24 groups within the revamped event are divided into two teams of 12 — one based mostly within the west and one within the east — with the highest eight from every progressing to the spherical of 16.

Within the japanese zone, Gwangju FC of South Korea gained a second sport in its first look in Asia with a 1-0 win at Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. Jasir Asani’s first-half penalty was sufficient.

Additionally from South Korea, three-time champion Pohang Steelers recovered from an opening-round loss to beat Shanghai Port 3-0. Metropolis rival Shanghai Shenhua misplaced by the identical scoreline to Johor of Malaysia whereas Thailand’s Buriram United gained 2-1 at Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.

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