Zobahan coach Mansour Ebrahimzadeh is confident his team can become the first Iranian club to win the AFC Asian Champions League when it faces South Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa in Saturday's final.
Zobahan has beaten some of Asia's strongest clubs since Ebrahimzadeh took over before the 2008-09 season. The Iranians have conceded only five goals in 11 Asian Champions League games while knocking out holders Pohang Steelers, two-time winners Al Ittihad, Uzbek champions Bunyodkor and Saudi giants Al Hilal.
''We concede so few goals because we defend as a team,'' Ebrahimzadeh said. ''It's not just about one line of defense. People have to get past our whole team.''
But with 16 titles since 1992, including a record seven K-League titles and the Asian Club Championship in 1995, Seongnam will be the clear favorites for the Tokyo final.
Zobahan has only won two titles, the domestic Hazfi Cup in 2003 and 2009. The team is looking to go one better than Esfahan club Sepahan, which reached the final against Japan's Urawa Reds in 2007.
Mahdi Rajabzadeh is Zobahan's top scorer in the competition with five goals, although four came with Mes Kerman in the group stage before he was transferred to Ebrahimzadeh.
Iran striker Mohammad Khalatbari and Brazilian Igor Castro both have four goals and are expected to lead the attack on Saturday.
''Khalatbari and Castro are a big part of our team,'' Ebrahimzadeh said. ''They have played together for three years.''
Seongnam striker Dzenan Radoncic and midfielder Cheon Kwang-Jin are both suspended for the final.
Of the 22 Seongnam players making the trip to Tokyo, Kim Chul-ho is the only one to have played in an Asian Champions League final before. He was a member of the 2004 team that lost to Al Ittihad.
''I was a rookie at that time so did not realize how important the final was,'' Kim said. ''We were too defensive to keep the lead of the first leg and this brought about the painful defeat.''
''Some say they (Zobahan) are not as strong as Al Hilal but I don't think they are weak.''
The winner of Saturday's match will compete in next month's Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. The AFC representatives will face the winner of the match between hosts Al Wahda and OFC champions Hekari United for the chance to play Inter Milan in the semifinals.
