The hosts were forced to come from behind after conceding an own goal in the 51st minute, with Petros Araujo scoring the equaliser in the 69th to salvage a 1-1 draw.

Menezes, who took charge of the Saudi club last week, admitted that his side struggled to perform against the Islamic Republic of Iran side, particularly in the final third where they had 11 total shots on target compared to Foolad’s five.

The draw saw Islamic Republic of Iran's Foolad and Al Nassr move up to five points, with the Saudis ahead on goal difference. Qatar's Al Sadd climbed to four points after defeating Al Wehdat of Jordan 3-1 in the other Group D tie on Tuesday.

Winless in two prior matches, the Qatari champions clicked into gear with a blistering three-goal burst in the opening 26 minutes, with Baghdad Bounedjah, Boualem Khoukhi and Hassan Al Haydos all getting on the scoresheet before an Ahmad Sameer penalty sparked an Al Wehdat revival late on.

The result lifts Xavi’s Al Sadd to an improved four points from three matches – one behind group leaders Foolad Khouzestan and Al Nassr – while Al Wehdat remain bottom of Group D with one point at the half-way point of their maiden group stage campaign.

Jovan Dokic drew AGMK level in the 88th minute after Ahmed Alhashmi had given Shabab Al Ahli a first half lead and Akramjov Kamilov completed a dream comeback with the winner in added time.

It was a magnificent performance from the Uzbekistan club as they sealed their first ever win in the group stage of the AFC Champions League, with victory taking them to four points.

Hatan Bahbri starred for Rogerio Micale’s side, setting up Ali Hadi Al Buyahi’s opener before making the points safe with two goals of own, while Vahdat Hanonov scored for Istiklol in the first of two matches between the sides in four days,

The result takes Al Hilal to seven points from three matches, with Istiklol - who suffered their first defeat in the competition - joined by AGMK on four at the half-way point of the group stage.

Both sides had been winless in their first two games, with Al Ahli a point ahead of their opponents thanks to Omar Al Soma’s last-minute equaliser against Qatar's Al Duhail SC in the previous game.

Both sides went into the Matchday Three encounter hopeful of extending an unbeaten record, with Al Duhail having collected four points from their opening two games and Esteghlal having earned the full six points.