TEHRAN – Iranian football clubs Esteghlal and Persepolis were disappointed to register their first wins in the 2019 AFC Asian League Matchday Two on Tuesday.

In Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, Esteghlal were held to a 1-1 draw by Al Ain of the UAE.

Farshid Esmaeili scored for the hosts in the 53rd minute but with five minutes remaining Tsukasa Shiotani equalized the match.

Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia defeated Qatar’s Al Duhail 3-1 in another Group C match.

Al Hilal remain top of the group with six points, followed by Al Duhail who have earned three points.

Al Ain and Esteghlal are third and fourth with just one point.

In Group D, Persepolis lost to Al Sadd of Qatar after conceding an injury time goal in Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Baghdad Bounedjah scored the winner for the Qatari giants in the dying moments of the match with a header.

Earlier on the day, Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor edged past Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Tashkent’s Pakhtakor Central Stadium.

Pakhtakor move up top of the table with four points, followed by Al Ahli and Al Sadd with three points each and Persepolis remain bottom with just one point.  

Reporting by Masoud Hossein