Zayed nets second hat-trick for Persepolis

Eamon Zayed, who less than a year ago was plying his trade in the Airtricity League with Derry City, scored three times in his Asian Football Confederation Champions League debut in Teheran on Wednesday.  Playing in front of 82,880 fanatical fans celebrating the Persian New Year for his team Persepolis against Al Shabab Al Arabi of the United Arab Emirates, Zayed open the scoring on eight minutes when a free-kick by Mehrdad Pooladi was knocked back into the path of the Libyan International, who saw his shot beat the keeper Ismail Jumaa from 15 metres out.

It was 1-0 at the break but that was to change in a frantic 15 minute spell which saw another five goals scored. Zayed bagged his second just two minutes after the break, back-heeling the ball into the net from close range, and two became three in the 53^rd minute as Zayed fired home from a tight angle after a slide rule pass from Nori. 

Al Shabab pulled one back from the penalty spot after Ciel calmly chipped the spot kick past goalkeeper Asmir Avdukic into the net. But there was no let up from the home side and goals from Gholamreza Rezaei, Karimi and Feshangchi made it 6-1 to the hosts to record their biggest ever victory in this competition.

The result sees Persepolis climb to the top of Group D with four points after an opening day draw away to Al Hilal of Kazakhstan. For Zayed, it's the second hat trick since joining the Iranian Pro-League side.  Coming off the bench, Eamon netted a hat-trick in the Tehran derby against Esteghlal in front of 90,000 people at the
beginning of February. The performance also earned him the accolade of Goal.com player of the week.

Eamon Zayed writes a column for Extratime.ie. Be sure to tune in for to read all about his hat-trick exploits in Iran