Iran’s Tractor FC defeated Al Duhail 2-1 to book their spot in the Round of 16 of 2025-2026 season AFC Champions League Elite in Tabriz, Iran, on Monday.

The last-gasp goal from Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (90+3 minute) gave the all-important maximum points to the hosts after captain Shojae Khalilzadeh’s (51st minute) strike had given them the equaliser following Al Duhail’s Benjamin Bourigeaud’s opening goal via penalty in the 35th minute.

The win means that with 14 points, Tractor FC are guaranteed a top-eight finish while Djamel Belmadi’s Al Duhail still have much to do.

Al Duhail were constantly put under pressure by the rampaging hosts for a greater part of the match, but the sharp reflexes and quick thinking ability of goalkeeper Bautista Burke came in handy when it mattered the most.