The Iraqi midfielder was the hero of the night as he notched the match's only goal from the penalty spot to take the Islamic Republic of Iran side to the top of the group with seven points.

With Al Duhail SC suffering a 4-2 defeat to UAE's Sharjah, there is still all to play for in Group C.

Goals from Abdullah Madu and top scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah sealed the points for Al Nassr to keep them at the summit of the group, while Sepahan were left trailing second placed Al Sadd SC by five points with two matches to go.

With two games to spare, Al Nassr joined their countrymen Al Ahli, becoming the second team to advance to the 2020 AFC Champions League Round of 16. But Vitoria insists his side will not take their foot off the gas in the remaining two matches.

Sharjah’s 4-2 win over Al Duhail earlier on Friday opened the group up, meaning that regardless of the result, both Al Taawoun and Persepolis would remain in contention going into Matchday Five, but a win for either side at Education City Stadium would send them top of Group C.

Sharjah came into the match in a desperate need for a win to keep them in the race for a place in the next round, while for Al Duhail, a win could mean going top if Al Taawoun fail to defeat Persepolis in the second Friday fixture.

The match was sealed through a brace from Algeria international striker Baghdad Bounedjah either side of a tap in by Akram Afif, before new signing Tabata rounded off the scoring with an effort five minutes from time after coming on as a substitute.

At 39 years 10 months, Tabata became the second oldest scorer in the history of the AFC Champions League behind Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors’ Lee Dong-gook.

Al Shorta took the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour in the Group A through a Saad Natiq header, and Mohammed Al Majhad’s second half leveler for Al Ahli was quickly cancelled out with Mazin Fayyad winning it for Al Shorta in the 65th minute.

The win represents the first time Al Shorta have won a match in the AFC Champions League, having previously competed in the 2004 and 2005 editions, finishing bottom of their group on both occasions.