Ghotbi also spent three-and-a-half years coaching in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse, leaving him uniquely placed to run the rule over the sides battling to be crowned kings of the Continent.

The 54-year-old has enjoyed a long and distinguished career around Asia and beyond, but his triumph of steering Persepolis to the league title at the Azadi in 2008 is a moment that remains etched on his memory.

The Japanese side travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran with a two-goal lead after Serginho added to fellow Brazilian Leo Silva’s opener in the first leg at Kashima Soccer Stadium to secure a 2-0 win for the J.League club. 

More than 35,000 spectators roared Kashima to victory on home soil, but that number is likely to be at least doubled in Tehran, where Persepolis’ die-hard fans regularly fill the venue to capacity and generate one of the most vibrant atmospheres in Asia.

But overcoming the odds is something Branko Ivankovic’s team have managed to do time and again in the knockout rounds and, going by their previous performances, Persepolis will be confident that they can still write their name into the history books.

No side have overhauled a two-goal first-leg deficit in the final since Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad recovered from losing 3-1 to Korea Republic’s Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2004 to win the return meeting 5-0 and be crowned champions. Azadi Stadium, though, brings out the best in the Iranian giants and this final is far from over.

The Japanese side were put under plenty of pressure in the first half, but rode that out and made it to half-time all square.

The players then responded to head coach Go Oiwa’s demand for a more proactive approach in the second period, leaving them heading into the second leg in the ascendancy.

Persepolis started well in the first leg at Kashima Soccer Stadium, but faded in the second half as the hosts took control. Goals from Brazilian duo Leo Silva and Serginho ultimately secured a 2-0 victory for Kashima and gave the Tehran side a mountain to climb in the return meeting.

But Persepolis have twice recovered from first-leg deficits in the knockout rounds, eliminating the United Arab Emirates’ Al Jazira and Qatar’s Al Duhail in dramatic fashion at Azadi Stadium, and the Japanese team will know the job is only half done ahead of what is sure to be an enthralling clash.

The capacity crowd at the Kashima Soccer Stadium had endured a nervous first-half as Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis took the match to the home team, with the Central Asians unlucky not to have taken the lead on a couple of occasions.

A more settled Kashima were able to control the match better in the second half and Brazilian duo Leo Silva and Serginho struck one each for the Japanese side to take a 2-0 lead into next Saturday's return leg at Tehran's Azadi Stadium.

Second-half goals from Leo Silva and Serginho secured Japan's Kashima Antlers a 2-0 win in Saturday's first leg, leaving Persepolis to rue what it could have been.

The Islamic Republic of Iran giants started the match aggressively and had a couple of early sights at goal but their intensity dropped in the second half, allowing Kashima to take a good lead into next Saturday's return fixture in Azadi Stadium.