Sepahan 1-1 Al Hilal

AFC – ESFAHAN, Sepahan were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal at Foolad Shahr Stadium in Esfahan on Wednesday, a result that sees the Iranians qualify for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League.

Abdullah Al Dossary had given Al Hilal the lead just a minute into the second-half but Moharram Navidkia equalised eight minutes later.

Both sides now have 10 points with Al Gharafa in third on seven following their comprehensive victory over Al Jazira in Doha. Sepahan, though, have a superior head-to-head record over both Al Hilal and the Qataris.

Sepahan’s Senegalese striker Ibrahima Toure had one of the best efforts of the first-half early in the game when he collected a long pass from Navidkia, but his right-foot shoot was easily defended by Al Hilal goalkeeper Hasan Al Otaibi.

Five minutes later, Navidkia set up Toure to get off a shot from just outside the box but his effort was turned away by Al Otaibi.

Sepahan appealed for a penalty in the 36th minute when Toure felt he had been brought down in the box but the referee waved away their protests.

And two minutes later Toure only had himself to blame for not breaking the deadlock, shooting straight at Al Otaibi from close range.

Toure was still keen to put himself in good positions but missed another chance and saw team-mate Reza Enayati do the same before the half-time whistle.

The deadlock was quickly broken in the second-half when Al Dossary beat defender Jalal Hosseini after collecting a cross from the right before firing into the bottom corner.

However, the visitors’ lead did not last long with the impressive Navidkia equalising less than 10 minutes later.

Enayati and Toure combined well to set up Navidkia in the area and he calmly found the back of the net to level the scores.

Toure and Enayati had further chances as the half wore on, but neither were able to find the target and give their side the victory their dominance deserved as both settled for a point.