Iranian football teams Persepolis and Esteghlal Khuzestan failed to win against their Qatari rivals in Matchday 4 of the AFC Champions League on Monday.

In Group D, Persepolis were left to rue missed chances after a 0-0 draw with Al Rayyan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Striker Mehdi Taremi squandered the game’s best opportunity on the stroke of half-time, lofting a chipped penalty over the bar following a foul by Al Rayyan left-back Mosaab Kheder.

Fellow forward Ali Alipour, meanwhile, had a fine headed opportunity to give Persepolis a lead with just 10 minutes on the clock but was unable to control his effort at goal.

The misses almost proved costly when Al Rayyan's Sebastian Soria rattled the post with the game already deep into injury time following a flowing counter-attacking move.

In the end, though, neither side were able to claim all three points and Group D remains in the balance with two rounds of fixtures remaining.  

Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia edged past Al Wahda from the UAE in the group and moved to top of the group with eight points from four games, one more than Al Rayyan and three ahead of Persepolis with two games remaining.

In Doha, Esteghlal Khuzestan suffered a 2-1 defeat to Lekhwiya of Qatar in Group B.

Aloys Nong put Esteghlal Khouzestan in front in 9th minute at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.

The visitors’ advantage did not last long, though, as influential playmaker Nam Tae-hee produced a stunning 20-yard strike after 35 minutes to level the scores. By the stroke of half-time, the comeback was complete as Almoez Ali took advantage to bundle home a cross after more fine work by Nam on the left flank.

Elsewhere, Al Fateh of Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 with Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates.

The result moves Al Fateh on to five points, two behind second placed Esteghlal Khouzestan and a further point adrift of leaders Lekhwiya, while Al Jazira earned their first point of the campaign.