DOHA — Esteghlal Tehran secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Al-Rayyan in Doha on Tuesday, booking their place in the AFC Champions League round of 16.
Goals from Mohammad Reza Azadi (46’) and Alireza Kouskhi (69’) sealed the win, ensuring Esteghlal remains Iran’s sole representative in the knockout stage. Esteghlal win helped securing their arch-rivals Persepolis’ elimination from the competition.
The Tehran giants dominated large parts of the match, showing resilience and efficiency against the Qatari side. Azadi struck just after halftime, capitalizing on defensive confusion, while Kouskhi doubled the lead with a composed finish to confirm the win.
Esteghlal’s progress highlights the growing gap between Iranian clubs and their Saudi and Qatari counterparts, as other Iranian teams failed to make it past the group stage. Nevertheless, Esteghlal’s disciplined performance offers hope for Iranian football as they now prepare for a tougher challenge in the next round.
FULL DRAW OF AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE ROUND OF 16:
Al Hilal v Pakhtakor
Al Ahli v Al Rayyan
Al Nassr v Esteghlal
Al Sadd v Al Wasl
Photo courtesy: The AFC Champions League Elite official X account.
Kawasaki Frontale beat Al Sadd 3-2 after extra time to become the only East Asian club in the AFC Champions League Elite semifinals.