TEHRAN – Persepolis football team of Iran suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Qatari giants Al Duhail in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.

The result meant that the Qatari champion matched Ulsan Hyundai's record of nine consecutive wins in the AFC Champions League.

In the 15th minute, Almoez Ali found the back of the net with a header sent by summer signing Edmilson.

Persepolis then came close to equalizing in the 23rd minute, but Omid Alishah's effort flew just wide of Amine Lecomte's goal.

While Persepolis came out with renewed vigor, they could not pose a serious threat except for Mohammad Ansari's strike that sailed over the crossbar following a quick free-kick.

In the 77th minute, Al Duhail defender Lucas Mendes tested Alireza Beiranvand's reflexes with a scorching free-kick, which the latter tipped over the bar for a corner.

The game went on to end with only a single goal and Al Duhail could regret not taking a bigger advantage to Tehran for the second leg on September 17.