AFC Champions League Elite Preliminary Round 1
Al-Duhail SC 3 - 2 FT Sepahan FC
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Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
M. Hazbavi 3'
11' I. Bamba (B. Bourigeaud)
Milad Zakipour 16'
↓ M. Karimi ↑O. Noorafkan 22'
24' A. Boulbina (Tuta)
33' K. Piatek
HT
↓ J. Aghaeipour ↑A. Shafiedoost 46'
67' Ibrahima Bamba
73' ↓ Edmilson Junior ↑I. Mohammed
↓ K. Rezaei ↑M. Aliyari 78'
↓ E. Hajsafi ↑A. Haji Eidi 78'
78' ↓ A. Boulbina ↑M. Hamza
M. Zakipour 90'
90'+3 ↓ Tuta ↑J. Castelletto
↓ M. Askari ↑M. Lotfi 90'+3
Bench Jean-Charles Castelletto
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Al-Duhail SC
Goalkeepers
Salah Zakaria 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Youssouf Sabaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Silva 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7
Rating
Ibrahima Bamba 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Homam Ahmed 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Marco Verratti 
MAGNET
80
Activity
80
Activity
71
Passes
9
Duels
Edmilson Junior
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
Benjamin Bourigeaud
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.2
Rating
Karim Boudiaf
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
76
Passes
9
Duels
Adil Boulbina 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
4
Shots
7.7
Rating
Forwards
Krzysztof Piątek
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.2
Rating
BENCH
Bautista Burke 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jasim Sarour
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Bassam Al-Rawi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean-Charles Castelletto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ghanem Al Minhali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ismaeel Mohammad
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdullah Al Ahrak
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mubarak Shanan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tahsin Jamshid
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Aymen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Mohamed
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sepahan FC
Goalkeepers
Hossein Hosseini
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Aria Yousefi
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
36%
Pass Acc
Amin Hazbavi
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Mohammad Daneshgar 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
86%
Duel Win %
Milad Zakipour 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
Midfielders
Mohammad Askari 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
31%
Pass Acc
6.5
Rating
Mohammad Karimi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
22
Entry
Arash Rezavand 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Ehsan Hajisafi
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
35%
Pass Acc
Javad Aghaeipour
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Kaveh Rezaei 
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
Nima Mirzazad
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Hadi Mohammadi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vakhdat Khanonov
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Esmaeil Falamarzi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammad Amini
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aref Haji Eydi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammad Reza Bordbar
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Omid Noorafkan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohammadmehdi Lotfi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Majid Aliyari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aria Shafiedoost
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/26/2022 | Al-Duhail SC | 5 - 2 | Sepahan FC | AFC Champions League | King Abdullah Sport City Stadium |
| 04/10/2022 | Sepahan FC | 0 - 1 | Al-Duhail SC | AFC Champions League | King Abdullah Sport City Stadium |
04/26/2022
04/10/2022
Al-Duhail SC Win
Sepahan FC Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Al-Duhail SC
Sepahan FC
Al-Duhail SC
Sepahan FC
Continental Drama at the Khalifa International Stadium
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 59/100. A high-stakes knockout clash saw Al-Duhail SC survive a relentless offensive barrage to keep their continental dreams alive in a match defined by clinical finishing and narrow margins.
The Siege Begins
The atmosphere at the Khalifa International Stadium was electric as both sides bypassed a cautious feeling-out process to launch into a full-scale offensive. An Intensity rating of 8.8 was fueled by a combined barrage of 33 shots, turning the pitch into a relentless shooting gallery. Despite Sepahan FC controlling possession with 53%, it was Al-Duhail SC who showed more bite in the early transitions. The Qatari side struggled to maintain the ball in the middle third but compensated with rapid verticality, forcing the Iranian visitors into desperate defensive recoveries. The early stages set a frantic tempo where tactical discipline was frequently traded for raw attacking output, ensuring the spectators were treated to a genuine end-to-end spectacle.
The Last Line of Defence
As the match swung towards a 3-2 scoreline, the narrative shifted from the attackers to the men between the posts. A total of 9 saves across both ends prevented this scoreline from reaching even more historic proportions. The Al-Duhail SC goalkeeper was particularly influential, making 6 crucial interventions to deny a Sepahan FC side that peppered the goal with 19 total attempts. While the Balance score of 2.3 suggests the teams were slightly mismatched in defensive efficiency, the sheer volume of high-quality chances kept the outcome in doubt until the final whistle. Each save acted as a pivot point, shifting the momentum and forcing the trailing side to commit more bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
Knockout Reality
With an Stakes level of 5.0 reflecting the "win or go home" nature of this 1st Preliminary Round tie, the final ten minutes were played with palpable desperation. Sepahan FC threw everything at the hosts, recording 8 shots on target and creating significant pressure from 6 corner situations. However, Al-Duhail SC remained resolute, absorbing the pressure and managing the clock with veteran composure. The 3-2 victory secures their progression and provides a massive boost to morale for a side currently sitting 7th in their domestic standings. For the visitors, 19 shots and superior possession will offer little consolation as they exit the competition following a classic encounter that lived up to its billing as a continental thriller.
Key Questions
What caused the 5-goal thriller?
A relentless volume of 33 shots and a knockout atmosphere forced both teams to abandon caution, resulting in an open, end-to-end attacking display.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Knockout Tension at Khalifa International
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 34/100. This preliminary round clash is a high-pressure survival test where continental ambitions will be decided over ninety minutes of knockout drama.
The Setup
The lights of the Khalifa International Stadium will shine on a classic "win or go home" scenario as Al-Duhail SC host Sepahan FC on August 12, 2025. This 1st Preliminary Round tie carries a maximum Stakes rating of 5.0, reflecting the brutal reality of the AFC Champions League qualifying path. Al-Duhail enter the match sitting 7th in their domestic league, having struggled for consistency with a mixed Form score of 3.8. Despite their league position, the Qatari side has shown attacking teeth, netting 14 goals in their last seven outings, though defensive lapses remain their Achilles' heel.
Key Battle
The tactical heart of this match lies in the transition phase. Al-Duhail SC will rely heavily on the physical presence of B. Soumaré in the middle of the park to disrupt Sepahan's buildup. With a Stars rating of 2.2, the match lacks a heavy roster of marquee names, but the clinical finishing of K. Piątek provides the home side with a distinct edge in the final third. Sepahan's defensive unit must remain disciplined to track Piątek's movement, while Tuta will be tasked with organizing the home backline to prevent any counter-attacking sucker punches from the Iranian visitors.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey opening as both sides respect the finality of the knockout format. The Balance rating of 3.0 suggests a match that could swing on a single individual error. However, Al-Duhail's superior individual quality in the forward positions should eventually break the deadlock. We predict a narrow 2-1 victory for the home side, with Soumaré controlling the tempo and Piątek finding the decisive moment late in the second half to secure passage to the next stage.