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<p>Top Qatari side Al Duhail produced a masterly show in the second half to beat Iran’s Esteghlal 3-0 in their opening AFC Champions League Group C match in Doha on Tuesday.</p><p>Hosts Al Duhail almost scored within 60 seconds of kick-off. Luiz Martin intercepted the ball in the midfield and fed Shoya Nakajima who advanced down the left and struck from a narrow angle, only to be thwarted by Mehdi Rahmati.</p><p>Centre-back Ahmed Yasser tested the goalkeeper from distance. His powerful strike seemed destined for the top corner, but Rahmati tipped it behind in the 12th minute.</p><p>Al Duhail nearly broke the deadlock just before the break through Nakajima who took Bassam Al Rawi’s cushioned header first-time from the edge of the box, but could not find the back of the net.</p><p>Portuguese Rui Faria’s men took the field a different side, taking the game to their opponents and soon taking the lead.</p><p>Benatia marked his AFC Champions League debut with a goal, heading home Murad Naji’s cross to open the scoring for Al Duhail in the 56th minute. </p><p>Moroccan striker Yousef El Arabi doubled the lead in the 74th minute when he latched onto a Nakajima through pass and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting into an empty net.</p><p>Esteghlal’s frustration grew with their inability to break the Qatari defence and they resorted to long shots. Captain Pejman Montazeri tried his luck, but his effort sailed wide.</p><p>Substitute Ali Afif sealed victory with the third goal after a swift counter-attack. He embarked on a 50-yard run and then exchanged a one-two with Nakajima that left him with a simple tap-in in the first minute of stoppage time.</p><p>Al Duhail travel to Saudi Arabia to face Al Hilal, whereas Esteghlal welcome Al Ain to Tehran on 12th March.</p>