https://arab.news/nvtsj
DOHA: Australian striker Mitchell Duke shrugged off a head injury to put 抖阴短视频鈥檚 Al-Taawoun into the Asian Champions League knockouts with a 1-0 win over Qatar giants Al-Duhail.
Duke鈥檚 head was heavily bandaged after a clash with Al-Duhail鈥檚 Almoez Ali minutes earlier, but he recovered to nod the winner from a corner on 86 minutes.
Al-Taawoun鈥檚 second win over Al-Duhail in the coronavirus-hit tournament put them into the round of 16 for the first time as the visitors advanced due to their head-to-head record, with both teams on nine points after six games.
And on a night when all four Group C teams had a chance of reaching the last 16, Iran鈥檚 Persepolis thrashed UAE outfit Sharjah 4-0 to join Al-Taawoun in the knockouts.
Duke鈥檚 goal was the decisive act in a frenetic final 10 minutes at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar, a venue for the 2022 World Cup.
The Aussie clashed heads with Ali following a corner but he was back in the action after a few minutes of treatment on the ground.
Al-Duhail鈥檚 Ismail Mohamed almost found the mark but his chip was cleared off the line by substitute Saad Yaslam with the goalkeeper beaten.
Duke was then on hand to seal Al-Taawoun鈥檚 last-16 spot as he planted a firm header past Al Duhail goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Bakri from Sultan Mandash鈥檚 corner.
Persepolis had an easier ride at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium as they scored three in the first half to ease past Sharjah.
Shojae Khalilzadeh nodded the Iranians in front in the second minute, and Isa Alekasir and Vahid Amiri also scored with headers just before halftime. Mehdi Qara completed the scoring with Persepolis鈥檚 fourth headed goal in second half injury time.
Earlier, Qatar鈥檚 Al-Sadd and 抖阴短视频鈥檚 Al-Nassr both lost their final group games against already eliminated rivals.
Al-Sadd were shocked 2-1 by Iran鈥檚 Sepahan, while Al Nassr went down 1-0 to former champions Al Ain.