Hilal lost 1-0 to Zobahan of Iran in the semifinals first leg of the Asian Champions League at Foolad Shahr Stadium in Isfahan Wednesday. Midfielder Ghasem Hadadifar hit a 57th-minute winner from a free kick. Al-Hilal missed a golden opportunity four minutes before halftime when midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson missed a penalty kick. Zobahan also failed to take its chances with Brazilian striker Igor Castro and Iranian international Mohammad Reza Khalatbari most at fault. But credit should go to Hilal keeper, Hasan Al-Otaibi, for making the saves and keeping the tally at 1-0. Hilal missed the services of its key players Thiago Neves, Radoi, Khaled Aziz and Abdul-Latif Al-Ghannam. It also lost Yasser Qahtani midway through the game when he was injured and eventually taken off the field three minutes into the second half. Zobahan - without former international Mahdi Rajabzadeh, who was suspended after being sent off in the quarterfinal second leg against holder Pohang Steelers - breathed a huge sigh of relief in the 41st minute. Qahtani was fouled in the area as he was shaping up to shoot with Zobahan goalkeeper Shahab Gordan desperately rushing out at him. But veteran Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson hit a poor penalty and it was saved by Iranian goalkeeper Gordan. Wilhelmsson had a nightmare match as it was his leaving open a gap in the Saudi wall that allowed Hadadifar to give the host the lead and what could prove to be a vital goal. Hilal desperately looked for an equalizer, but Iranian defense stood firm. Nawaf Al-Abed did hit a strong kick from outside the box in the 70th minute only to be denied by the post. Tuesday's match had been a seven-goal thriller. Saudi side Al-Shabab mounted a thrilling late comeback to secure a 4-3 victory over Korean outfit Seongnam Ilhwa. The home side trailed 3-2 with 10 minutes to play, but Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel Olivera claimed his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute to level the score before substitute Faisal Bin Sultan snatched an 89th-minute winner. England promises huge profits England has promised FIFA profits of at least 161 million pounds ($240 million) if the country is chosen to stage the World Cup in 2018, the campaign team bidding to host the event said Wednesday. The money generated for world soccer's governing body, based on projected ticket sales alone from the 2017 Confederations Cup and the World Cup itself, would be supplemented by other revenue accruing from the finals. The bid team also announced that all ticket-holding fans and accredited media and other personnel would be eligible for free travel on match days and that FIFA's requirements of having 60,000 hotel rooms contracted to house guests had been met. More than 400,000 other rooms would also be available. In addition, all 32 competing finalists would be hosted by a Premier League or Football League club and would have the use of all of that club's medical and training facilities. The England bid estimates revenue of 602 million pounds from ticketing with the costs of the tournament put at 441 million, based on 94 percent stadium occupancy. Under FIFA rules the ticket revenue and dollar conversions are based on March 2010 figures. The bidding war to stage the 2018 and 2022 Finals is beginning to intensify with FIFA making its decision for both tournaments in Zurich on Dec. 2.
