“Our objective is to reach the final and we promise our fans that we will,” said Persepolis' central defender Hosseini after scoring late in the second half to propel his side past Al Jazira and into the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-finals on away goals.

Six months on, Hosseini’s words echo fresh as Persepolis find themselves exactly where their skipper had promised – 180 minutes away from delivering the Islamic Republic of Iran’s first AFC Champions League title.

Beiranvand showed that in the second leg of the semi-final against Qatar's Al Sadd.

The score was 1-1 with just four minutes to go, a goal for Al Sadd would have effectively taken them to the AFC Champions League final at the expense of Persepolis. The ball was crossed for Spanish legend Xavi, who was left with a free header from just seven yards.

Nine times out of then, this play would have resulted a goal, but as the 81,000 fans present at Azadi Stadiums fell to complete silence, the Persepolis goalkeeper had different ideas. Beiranvand produced an impossible reflex save to tip Xavi’s header behind and rescue his team.

Coming back from two goals down in a semi-final is an impressive feat in itself, but doing so twice over two legs, as Japan's Kashima did against Korea Republic's Suwon Samsung Bluewings, requires an impressive degree of mental resilience and self-belief - a quality needed at the highest level of the Continental game.

And, indeed, it is this quality that Japan international Doi insists has helped a battle-hardened Kashima side reach their maiden AFC Champions League final.

Ahead of the first of two meetings between the best clubs in the East and West of the continent, the-AFC.com kicks off our build-up to the final with a look at some of the key Kashima players, who could be the ones to watch at Kashima Soccer Stadium on November 3.

Ahead of the first of two meetings between the best clubs in the East and West of the continent, the-AFC.com kicks off our build-up to the final with a look at some of the key Persepolis players, who could be the ones to watch at Kashima Soccer Stadium on November 3.

The Islamic Republic of Iran side came into the match with a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Doha, and despite conceding 16 minutes into the game, they kept their composure, remaining disciplined and retaliating through Siamak Nemati's 49th minute strike which was enough to send them into the final.

The match swung one way then the other and then back again, before Serginho struck late on to send the Japanese side into their maiden continental showpiece.