AFC - Nawaf Al Abid’s scrappy first- half goal proved the difference as Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal edged out Iran’s Esteghlal 1-0 at Azadi Stadium on Tuesday to leave all four teams firmly in the hunt for a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League from Group D.

Al Abid took full advantage as Esteghlal failed to clear the ball out of their penalty area 11 minutes before half-time as Al Hilal gained revenge for last week’s 2-1 home defeat by Esteghlal.

And with Qatar’s Al Rayyan snatching a 2-1 win over UAE Pro League leaders Al Ain, all four teams in Group D are separated by just three points with two games remaining.

Despite the defeat Esteghlal still top of the table a point clear of both Al Ain and Al Hilal with Al Rayyan just two points further off the pace ahead of the penultimate round of fixtures in two weeks which sees Al Hilal entertain Al Ain, while Al Rayyan travel to Iran to face Esteghlal.

The crucial goal arrived after 34 minutes as Esteghlal’s Javad Nekounam attempted to clear the ball just inside the penalty area following a run from Al Hilal captain Yasser Al Qahtani.

But Nekounam only managed to hit the back of team-mate Hanif Omranzadeh and the ball broke kindly for Al Abid, who took full advantage by beating Esteghlal goalkeeper Mahdi Rahmati from inside the six-yard area.