As ever in Tehran, the competition sparked fever pitch as fans of the Islamic Republic of Iran giants turned up in the tens of thousands to witness the 1-1 draw between two-time continental champions Esteghlal and inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain.

Mame Baba Thiam put the hosts a goal up from the spot just before half-time before Tsukasa Shiotani levelled with 12 minutes to play as Esteghlal remained top of the standings, two points ahead of third-place Al Ain who have drawn four from four.

Al Ain tried to open the scoring early in the game, but Rayan Yaslam's left footed effort missed the target by a narrow margin 12 minutes in. Omar Abdulrahman tested the goalkeeper from outside the box but Seyed Hosseini was alert and made the save in the 24th minute.

Three minutes before the half time whistle, Mame Thiam's fourth goal of the competition restored parity from the spot after Farshid Esmaeili was brought down inside the box.

Six minutes after the restart, Al Ain's Marcus Berg's shot was saved following a headed pass from Abdulrahman.

Al Ain continued to dominate and push for an equaliser, and they were finally rewarded in the 78th minute when Shiotani unleashed a powerful shot that left the Iranian goalkeeper helpless.

Esteghlal host Al Rayyan on Matchday Five, while Al Ain welcome Al Hilal to Hazza bin Zayed Stadium next month.

As a quiet first half drew to a close, the hosts found a breakthrough just one minute before half time.

Hamdalla was brought down in the six yard box by defender Abdullah Al Zori and the Moroccan forward stepped up and converted from the spot to hand Al Rayyan a valuable lead heading into the break.

Al Hilal had a chance to snatch an equaliser through Yasser Al Qahtani's header after the onrushing goalkeeper failed to clear the ball, but Al Qahtani saw his attempt blocked by defender Gonzalo Viera.

While Al Hilal struggled to produce meaningful attacks, Al Rayyan doubled their lead after Hamdalla broke free on the counter and produced a pass to Captain Tabata who was afforded too much space and fired a shot at the heart of Ali Al Habsi's net in the 66th minute to put his side's victory beyond doubt.

The visitors got their consolation goal in the 89th minute after Ahmed Yasser fouled Achraf Bencharki in the box and Al Qahtani drove home the resulting penalty kick.

Both teams have away fixtures on Matchday Five as Al Hilal face Emirati side Al Ain, while Al Rayyan travel to Tehran to face Esteghlal.

 

It took five minutes for the hosts to make their first attempt through a shot from Abdalla Al Naqbi that was saved by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

A minute later, Al Wasl threatened again after a cross from Ali Saleh to captain Fabio de Lima whose strike went above the crossbar.

The visitors had a chance to open the scoring in the 21st minute when Siamak Nemati sent a powerful shot from a free-kick too high after a foul on goalkeeper Yousif Abdulla, who was booked for touching the ball outside the 18-yard box.

Eight minutes before half time, Persepolis broke the deadlock when Hossein Mahini delivered a pinpoint cross into the box to Kamyabinia who headed into the near corner.

With the beginning of the second half, the hosts came close to levelling the score but Lima's header missed the net after a cross from Ronaldo Mendes in the 48th minute.

Mendes thought he scored the equaliser after cutting in from the right flank and firing from a narrow angle but the Brazilian saw his attempt saved by goalkeeper Beiranvand.

A fourth consecutive defeat leaves Al Wasl bottom of Group C with no hope of advancing to the next stage ahead of Matchday Five's trip to face Al Sadd.

Last year's semi-finalists Persepolis are, meanwhile, second in the group with nine points and will travel to Qarshi next to meet Nasaf.

 

Al Gharafa came within a whisker of stunning their hosts in the sixth minute when Abdelaziz Hatem rattled the right post after a cross from Wesley Sneijder.

Al Ahli gradually grew into the game and Saleh Al Amri took advantage of a misplaced pass to advance through on goal but failed to take his chance. At the other end of the pitch, Moayed Hassan tested the goalkeeper from distance but Yasser Al Mosailem was well positioned to save.

The visitors came the closest to opening the scoring in the 19th minute when Mehdi Taremi found himself in front of an empty net after onrushing goalkeeper Al Mosailem failed to clear a ball from Assim Madibo but the Islamic Republic of Iran international somehow missed the target.

After a goalless first half, the Qataris finally took the lead through Taremi who converted a cross from Hassan in the 56th minute. 

Al Gharafa's joy didn't last for long as Al Ahli responded instantly in similar fashion after Saeed Al Muwallad crossed for Moamen Zakaria, who headed home at the far post two minutes later.

The hosts almost snatched a winner when Ioannis Fetfatzidis cut inside from the right flank and fired a shot that ricocheted off the far post. Zakaria found the rebound but failed to net the second goal as his attempt sailed above the crossbar 15 minutes before the final whistle.

The result keeps Al Ahli top of Group A with eight points ahead of Matchday Five against Tractorsazi Tabriz while Al Gharafa are on five points, level with Al Jazira who they host next.

 

The hosts got off to a flying start and took the lead in the third minute, with midfield superstar Xavi diverting in Boualem Khoukhi's cross to score his first-ever AFC Champions League goal.

Al Sadd doubled their lead in the 16th minute and this time it was a defender who got on the scoresheet. Full-back Abdelkarim Hassan finished off a surging solo run from the halfway line with a fierce strike that left Nasaf keeper Sanjar Kuvvatov with no chance of saving.

Baghdad Bounedjah then gave the Qatari side a comfortable 3-0 cushion at half time, with the Algerian netting his fifth goal of the tournament with an acrobatic overhead kick in the 43rd minute.

Fellow Algerian Jugurtha Hamroun, who had provided the assist for Bounedjah, got a goal of his own in the 71st minute, smashing in a low shot past Kuuvatov to round off a quick counter-attack.

The big win sends Al Sadd to the top of Group C with nine points from four games, and leaves them needing four points to qualify for the Round of 16. They host bottom of the group Al Wasl on Matchday Five when Nasaf welcome Persepolis to Uzbekistan.

An Al Sadd win coupled with Nasaf failing to beat Persepolis would see the Qatari and Iranian sides advance with a game to spare.