Al Gharafa lost 0-1 to Iran’s Foolad Khouzestan in the fifth round of their 2022 AFC Champions League campaign in Group C at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on Friday.

Luciano Chimba scored the all-important goal in the 15th minute.

Al Gharafa remained on five points and in third place in the group, whereas Foolad are leading the group with 11 points.

Al Gharafa had played out a goalless draw with Foolad in their opener and then beat Ahal FC of Turkmenistan 2-0 in the second round.

The Cheetahs were held to a 1-1 draw by Shabab Al Ahli Dubai in the third round and lost to the same team by a 2-8 margin in the fourth round, in the back-to-back match.

Foolad and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai are the only unbeaten teams in the group, while Ahal are last with one point.

Al Gharafa are up against Ahal in the sixth and final round of group stage on Tuesday, 26th April.

The top team from each group will qualify for the Round of 16 along with the three best second-placed teams from the five West Asia groups.