Persepolis Earns Dramatic Win over Al Shorta at AFC Champions League Elite

Giorgi Gvelesiani’s late penalty earned Persepolis its first win as the Iranian side launched a late fight back in Doha’s Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium.

Mohanad Ali’s 19th minute lob looked like it was going to earn Al Shorta its first win in the competition but Oston Urunov’s strike into the corner pulled Persepolis level in the 89th minute and Gvelesiani won the game, but only after Al Shorta’s Mahmoud Al Mawas had missed a spot-kick of his own.

Mohammad Khodabandehlo was deemed to have handled the ball in his own penalty area when he blocked Hussein Ali’s goal-bound shot deep into added time only for Al Mawas’ penalty to come back off the post to ensure the points were shared.

The drama continued at the other end, with referee Kim Dae-yong pointing to the spot after the ball hit Salomon Bindjeme on the hand and Gvelesiani converted.

The result moves Persepolis onto six points from six games and into the qualification berths for the last 16 with two matches remaining while Al Shorta remains on two points and with its hopes of advancing dwindling.