A stoppage-time goal from Erik Exposito saw Qatar’s Al Ahli hold Iran’s Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan 2-2 in their exciting 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Two first-leg Round of 16 clash at the Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.

The goals for Sepahan came from Ricardo Alves (20th minute) and Arash Rezavand (45+7 minute), while Michel Vlap (28th minute) and Exposito (90+3 minute) pulled things back for Al Ahli.

Sepahan were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when Omid Noorafkan was shown the red card following VAR after he landed his spikes on a rival player.

Both sides will meet again in the return leg next week at the same venue in Doha.

Sepahan had finished second behind Jordan’s Al Hussein in Group C, while Al Ahli were the Group B winners.