AFC - Al Wehdat SC booked their AFC Champions League Two™ 2024/25 knockout stage spot after a 1-1 draw with Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan SC in their Group C tie on Tuesday.
The result took Al Wehdat to 11, assuring them a top two finish while Sepahan, on seven points, are three behind Sharjah FC of the United Arab Emirates going into next week’s final matchday.
Al Wehdat came close to finding a way through in the sixth minute after Feras Shilbaya sent a nicely weighted pass to Ousseynou Gueye, who was beaten to the ball by Sepahan keeper Payam Niazmand.
Sepahan, who needed a victory to keep their hopes alive, had their first look on goal in the ninth minute with Saleh Hardani pulling his effort high from the top of the area.
The momentum shifted in Sepahan’s favour but neither Amin Hazbavi nor Kaveh Rezaei could finish after Mohannad Semreen flashed an inviting cross across the face of goal.
Al Wehdat goalkeeper Abdallah Al Fakhouri was kept on his toes as he produced a string of saves to deny Mehdi Limouchi in the 34th minute and Bryan Dobo a minute later, before making an acrobatic stop to deny Steven Nzonzi from distance.
The Jordanian side continued to weather the storm with Al Fakhouri denying Limouchi in the 40th minute after the midfielder’s effort took a deflection before rolling into the arms of the Al Wehdat shot stopper.
But Al Wehdat’s patience was rewarded in the 43rd minute after Nzonzi was felled inside the box, with Shilbaya striking home the ensuing penalty to put Ra'fat Ali’s side in the driver’s seat heading into the break.
Sepahan came out fighting in the second half and went close to equalising in the 63rd minute after Mohammad Karimi forced Al Fakhouri to tip his long range effort over the bar.
The goal finally arrived for Sepahan from the ensuing corner, with Stephen Nzonzi towering home the header off Karimi’s delivery to take home a share of the spoils.
Sepahan meet Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol next week while Al Wehdat take on Sharjah FC.