Substitute Spanish striker Pedro Conde scored the winner with his first touch four minutes after coming on to steer Shabab Al Ahli past the Islamic Republic of Iran side for their second win.

Chances came few and far between, as both sides took control for periods of the game without ever landing a knockout blow, with Odiljon Khamrobekov and Sebastian Giovinco coming closest to breaking the deadlock for each of their sides.

Pakhtakor recovered from the Matchday Three defeat to Al Hilal to salvage a point against the same opponents, staying three points behind them and well in contention for what would be their first Round-of-16 appearance since 2010.

Conde scored within six minutes of coming on as a substitute for Ahmed Khalil, brushing off a challenge from Farshad Faraji and hitting home on the half-volley to gift his side valuable three points that put them back in contention for qualification to the Round of 16.

The two sides went head to head again after they had faced each other on Monday in a match that was decided by a piece of individual brilliance from youngster Hareb Abdalla.

The Australian forward joined Al Taawoun from J-League side Shimizu S-Pulse in August and made his AFC Champions League debut in the team’s 1-0 defeat to Persepolis on Tuesday.

Chances were few and far between on the night, but Duke had the biggest of them for the Saudi side when his effort from five yards out was rescued by goalkeeper Hamed Lak and the former Western Sydney Wanderers forward saw his attempt from the rebound denied again by the Persepolis goalkeeper.

The two sides had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw on Tuesday, with Al Ain taking the lead and Al Sadd equalising twice, before the Qataris took the lead at the hour mark through Baghdad Bounedjah, but a Boualem Khoukhi own goal ensured the points were shared in the competition’s joint highest scoring game to date.

The draw meant inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain took their first point of the current edition but remained in fourth place, while Al Sadd conceded the Group D top spot to Al Nassr, dropping to second with six points.

It was high octane action from the first blow of the referee's whistle in Doha on Monday as Asia's finest resumed their campaigns in the continent's biggest club tournament.

Seventeen goals were scored in the seven matches that were played in Groups A to D as the fans watching the action on their television screens were treated to a goal fest.

Join the-AFC.com as we pay tribute to the players who lit up Matchday 3 with their goal-scoring exploits.