Doha: Cameroonian striker Nong netted in the 66th minute to send the Iranians on their way to a fourth win in five games before Farzad Hatami sealed the points nine minutes from time and Amir Ghalehnoy’s side cannot now be surpassed at the summit with one round of matches remaining.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, will have to wait until their final game, once more against Tractorsazi on Matchday Six, before confirming their place in the last 16 for the eighth season in a row.
Tractorsazi went into the game with a one point advantage over Al Hilal at the start of the day, with the Iranians knowing a draw would be enough to seal their progress to the Round of 16.
Salman Al Faraj forced Akhbari into action in the opening moments of the second half, with the goalkeeper using his legs to save from close range, while a handling error from Sharahili at the other end almost allowed Hatami to capitalise soon after.
In the 66th minute, Tractorsazi took the lead when the Al Hilal defence was incapable of clearing a long ball into the box, allowing Mohammad Iranpourian to head the ball into the path of Nong, who steered his own header over the line from inside the six-yard box.
The goal prompted an immediate response from Al Hilal, with Salman Al Faraj forcing Akhbari into action three minutes later, with the Iranian goalkeeper equal to the task of the long-range attempt.
But with nine minutes remaining, Tractorsazi made sure of the points after Nong skipped easily past substitute Mohammed Al Shalhoub before sending in a centre that Hatami crashed into the roof of the goal with a powerful right-foot finish.Agencies
Doha: Cameroonian striker Nong netted in the 66th minute to send the Iranians on their way to a fourth win in five games before Farzad Hatami sealed the points nine minutes from time and Amir Ghalehnoy’s side cannot now be surpassed at the summit with one round of matches remaining.
Al Hilal, meanwhile, will have to wait until their final game, once more against Tractorsazi on Matchday Six, before confirming their place in the last 16 for the eighth season in a row.
Tractorsazi went into the game with a one point advantage over Al Hilal at the start of the day, with the Iranians knowing a draw would be enough to seal their progress to the Round of 16.
Salman Al Faraj forced Akhbari into action in the opening moments of the second half, with the goalkeeper using his legs to save from close range, while a handling error from Sharahili at the other end almost allowed Hatami to capitalise soon after.
In the 66th minute, Tractorsazi took the lead when the Al Hilal defence was incapable of clearing a long ball into the box, allowing Mohammad Iranpourian to head the ball into the path of Nong, who steered his own header over the line from inside the six-yard box.
The goal prompted an immediate response from Al Hilal, with Salman Al Faraj forcing Akhbari into action three minutes later, with the Iranian goalkeeper equal to the task of the long-range attempt.
But with nine minutes remaining, Tractorsazi made sure of the points after Nong skipped easily past substitute Mohammed Al Shalhoub before sending in a centre that Hatami crashed into the roof of the goal with a powerful right-foot finish.Agencies
