The triumph is Al Ansar’s 14th league title, having last won it in the 2006-2007 season.

Manuchehr Dzhalilov and Manuchehr Safarov scored twice each for the Tajik side, who overwhelmed Rogerio Micale’s side with a barrage of goals either side of half time after Bafetimbi Gomis had opened the scoring on 24 minutes.

The result – one of the shocks of the tournament so far – puts the debutants top of the group with two matches remaining, with Al Hilal’s inferior head-to-head record sending them down to second place despite both clubs having seven points.

The win took Shabab Al Ahli to four points to keep them within sight of Round of 16 qualification with matches against FC Istiklol of Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC to come.

Istiklol, who stunned Al Hilal 4-1 on Saturday, lead the group on seven points with the Saudi side second on goal difference. AGMK are on four points.

The result sees the Saudi Pro League side climb to seven points with a game against Esteghlal FC up next, while Al Shorta, whose elimination has been confirmed, take on Qatar’s Al Duhail SC.

Mehdi Tikdarinejad’s fastest goal of the 2021 AFC Champions League was the difference at the final whistle, the Tractor forward firing home a rebound after Peyman Babaei’s initial chance was stopped by goalkeeper Fahad Taleb inside two minutes.

The win took Tractor to six points, two behind leaders Sharjah of the UAE, while Air Force Club are on two points. Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor are third in the standings with three points. Air Force Club face Sharjah on Monday while Tractor play Pakhtakor.

Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok opened the scoring for Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor as his team dominated play, yet Sharjah’s late substitutes Mohammed Khalfan and Abdulaziz Salem combined, the latter assisting the former with just three minutes left on the clock in the Group B tie to salvage a point.

Having showed amazing spirit to come from two goals down to defeat the Qatar side 3-2 in their Matchday Three encounter, Al Wahda found it heavy going on Friday against an Al Rayyan team who ended the tie with nine men.

Omar Khrbin, the 2017 AFC Footballer of the Year, broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the second half but there was late disappointment for Al Wahda as captain Ismael Matar was sent off in added time.