As the final whistle went at the Azadi Stadium, Iraqi midfielder Bashar Resan broke into tears, overwhelmed by a huge result that came just days after his mother had passed away.

Resan had been on international duty with Iraq in the past week when he received the news about the bereavement.

After suffering a 1-0 defeat at home in the first leg, Al Sadd made a bright start in Tehran and levelled the aggregate score through Baghdad Bounedjah in the 17th minute.

However, Siamak Nemati's volleyed strike right after half-time restored Persepolis' advantage, and the Iranians kept the visitors at bay for the rest of the game to go through to the final 2-1 on aggregate.

The Tehran side began the match with a one-goal advantage from the first leg in Doha and an expectant Azadi Stadium was full to capacity, generating an atmosphere that would have rivalled anything the competition has ever see.

But they were stunned into silence inside 20 minutes when the tournament’s top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah swept home his record-equaling 13th of the campaign. Persepolis raised their game after the interval and hit back in the 49th minute as Siamac Nemati volleyed in Godwin Mensha’s cross with what proved the decisive goal.

Siamac Nemati's second-half goal secured a 2-1 aggregate win for the hosts and a place in the Continental showpiece, where they will face either Suwon Samsung Bluewings or Kashima Antlers in early November.

Trailing by a goal from the first leg, it was Al Sadd who had greater impetus to score, fashioning an opportunity in the third minute.

However, Abdelkarim Hassan's shot at goal flew straight into the hands of Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Any plans that Kashima Antlers may have had to play a tight, controlled match in the semi-final first leg against Suwon Samsung Bluewings last month went out of the window after just six minutes.

Two goals down after an own-goal by Atsuto Uchida and a strike from Dejan Damjanovic, Kashima had to draw from their reserves to come out on top of a rollercoaster 3-2 win. But it's a frantic scenario that midfielder Shoma Doi is at pains to avoid in the second leg in Suwon.

From today till October 26, the five finalists are in the running for the grand prize, where the winner shall receive an all expense-paid trip to either the first or second legs of the 2018 AFC Champions League final. The prize includes transport (domestic or international), accommodation and VIP passes for two.

For more information of the contest terms & conditions, please visit the link below:
#ACL2018 ULTIMATE FAN

After the first six minutes of the first leg of the AFC Champions League semi-final tie in Kashima Soccer Stadium, Suwon were in dreamland. An own-goal and Dejan Damjanovic's eighth goal of the tournament had stunned the home crowd and Kashima Antlers alike.

An impressive comeback from their hosts, though, did see Suwon ultimately return to Korea Republic suffering a 3-2 defeat, but midfielder Park remains optimistic that the damage done in the wild opening period could already be vital.