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AFC Champions League 2017   Persepolis   Godwin Mensha   Al Ahli   Shoja Khalilzadeh  

AFC - Muscat: A late equaliser by substitute Godwin Mensha saw Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the first leg of their 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Al Ahli took the lead after just two minutes at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex when Omar Al Soma slotted home the rebound after Persepolis keeper Alireza Beiranvand parried a shot from Saleh Al Jamaan into the Syrian striker's path.

Shortly before the hour, recent signing Leonardo da Silva made it 2-0 for the Jeddah-based side by finishing off a pass from Al Jamaan with aplomb, before Persepolis pulled one back in the 72nd minute after Shojae Khalilzadeh headed home from close in. 

With just six minutes remaining, Nigerian Mensha fired past Mohammed Al Owais in the Al Ahli goal to cap an excellent comeback for Persepolis and leave the tie firmly in the balance ahead of the second leg in Abu Dhabi in three weeks' time.