TEHRAN – A 90th-minute winner from Mahdi Torabi gave Persepolis a 1-0 win over tournament debutant Istiklol of Tajikistan in the 2021 AFC Champions League Round of 16 clash at Republican Central Stadium on Tuesday.
With the match seemingly destined to go to extra-time, Torabi floated a speculative effort into teenage goalkeeper Mukhriddin Hasanov’s top corner, sending the 2020 runner-up to the last eight for the fourth time in five seasons.
Torabi’s decisive strike ended a highly impressive maiden AFC Champions League campaign from Istiklol, who became the first team from Tajikistan to reach the tournament’s knockout stage.
Torabi was named the Man of the Match at the end of the game.