AFC - Shahid Mansouri FC opened their Group B account at the AFC Futsal Club Championship with a hard-fought 4-2 win over Ardus.
The Iranians established a three-goal lead at Al Rayyan Main Hall before holding off a spirited Ardus fightback to pick up three points.
An even first-half saw a number of chances at both ends but the Iranians took the lead just before the halfway point when, following a foul on the edge of the area, Majid Latif teed up Mohammadesmaeil Vatankhah to drive home.
Ardus came close to an equaliser when Konstantin Sviridov fed Jamoliddin Sharipov but he lifted his effort against the post and also saw a header clip the top of the bar.
Rustan Umarov pulled off a fine double save with just over a minute remaining in the opening period but was helpless to prevent Shahid Mansouri doubling their lead before half-time when Ahmad Esmaeilpour squared for Mohammad Keshavarz to poke home from close range at the back post.
Shahid Mansouri increased their lead eight minutes into the second-half when an incisive break ended with skipper Hamid Nasiri setting-up Morteza Azimaeidivkolaei to sidefoot into an empty net.
Ardus pulled a goal back when Sviridov rifled home and with just over four minutes to go, the Uzbeks decided to replace their keeper with an outfield player.
The move paid dividends as Sharipov steered home a cross at the far post to reduce the deficit to one goal.
Ardus' joy was relatively short-lived, though, as Masoud Daneshvar cut inside a defender and his low finish found the back of the net to seal the points for Shahid Mansouri.