AFC - Mehdi Taremi’s second-half penalty miss ensured Persepolis and Lekhwiya will go into the second-leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League Round of 16 with it all to play for after the sides ended scoreless in the first-leg on Tuesday.

The tournament’s leading marksman Taremi headed over early on for the hosts before Luiz Junior’s fizzing effort from distance struck the post on 15 minutes in a first-half of few chances at Azadi Stadium.

Mohsen Mosalman fired wide from just inside the box shortly after the restart as Persepolis sought to gain the upper hand while Nam Tae-hee’s curling effort was well tipped over by Alireza Beiranvand as the hour approached.

But with 10 minutes remaining the home side were given the perfect opportunity to win it when Ali Afif nudged Taremi in the penalty area, only for the forward to see his spot kick pushed away by Qasem Burhan.

The custodian then made arguably an even better save when he got down low to deny Vahid Amiri from close range with four minutes to play to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture in Doha next Tuesday.


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