Al Duhail came from behind to defeat Persepolis of Iran 2-1 in the sixth and last round (Group E) of 2023-2024 AFC Champions League at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Tuesday.

Substitute Michael Olunga scored the winner in the 84th minute after Mohammed Muntari had restored parity for Al Duhail in the ninth minute following Persepolis’ Shahab Zahedi’s seventh-minute goal.

The result ensured Al Duhail finished with their heads high despite ending the group in third place with seven points, while Persepolis maintained their second-place finish with just a point ahead of the Qatari side (eight points).

Al Nassr of Saudi Arabi emerged as Group E winners with 14 points. FC Istiklol finished last with three points.

Despite Al Duhail being out of contention for qualification from the group, coach Christopher Galtier’s men went all out to prove their worth in the game as they played their heart out right from the beginning, not minding the all-out attack of Persepolis.

Two goals were scored within the first 10 minutes of the game, with Persepolis taking the early lead through Zahedi, whose header from the centre of the box, from a Soroush Rafiei cross, in the seventh minute caught Al Duhail goalkeeper Salah Zakaria by surprise as it sailed straight into the centre of goal.

The Qatari side responded within two minutes of Persepolis’ strike with a quality goal of their own as Muntari struck a powerful right footer from the centre of the box to restore parity for his side, much to the dismay of the Iranian supporters.

With the match evened out, Persepolis, as expected, were determined to restore their lead as they mounted tremendous pressure on the Al Duhail defence as the first half wore on.

Zahedi almost got his brace in the 27th minute, but his left-footed shot from very close range was just a bit too high. The Persepolis forward got another chance at goal in the 44th minute, but his left-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box, following Mehdi Torabi's inch-perfect cross from a set piece, missed to the left.

Al Duhail also had a brilliant chance at pulling ahead two minutes into injury time, but Isaac Lihadji's left-footed shot from outside the box, following Assim Madibo’s free-kick, was just slightly off target.

Persepolis started the second half the way they ended the first with waves of relentless attacks on Al Duhail’s goal, but the defence stood firm, staving off the offense from their Iranian opponents.

Persepolis’ Giorgi Gvelesiani’s header from the centre of the box saved in the 56th minute, while Torabi’s 72nd-minute shot from the left side of the box was superbly saved by Salah Zakaria.

Gvelesiani missed a golden chance to put Persepolis ahead from the spot in the 81st minute, with his well-taken strike hitting the bar after beating Al Duhail goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, Olunga, who came in for Muntari, gave Al Duhail the lead with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner following a sublime pass from Youssef Ayman after a fast break.

As much as Persepolis tried to get an equaliser, it was Al Duhail who had the last laugh as they finished the match as winners.