TEHRAN – Persepolis of Iran football team earned a remarkable 1-0 win over Qatari giants Al Sadd in the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-finals.

In the match held in Doha’s Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Ali Alipour was on target from the penalty spot in the 86th minute.

Persepolis won the match without their three key players. Kamal Kamyabinia and Mohammad Ansari were suspended and Hossein Mahini has missed the rest of the season due to knee injury.

Al Sadd and Persepolis had met in the AFC Champions League for the very first time in this year’s group stages.  Both sides won their respective home games.

Al Sadd have reached the AFC Champions League semi-finals for the second time after 2011, when they eventually went on to win the competition.

The two sides will now lock horns again on October 23 at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran for the second leg, which will decide who gets to play in the final of the AFC Champions League.

Kashima Antlers of Japan will host South Korean Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Wednesday in East Region.