AFC - Javad Nekonam’s second-half penalty proved the difference as Iran Pro League leaders Esteghlal sealed top spot in Group D after edging out Al Ain 1-0 on Tuesday as the UAE Pro League champions missed out on a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League.

With two-time Asian Club Championship winners Esteghlal having guaranteed their qualification last week, Al Ain had to win at Tahnon Bin Mohamed Stadium and hope Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal lost to Al Rayyan in Qatar.

But Nekonam held his nerve with 12 minutes remaining as Esteghlal posted a fourth win of the campaign to advance as Group D winners ahead of Al Hilal, who beat Al Rayyan 2-0 in Doha.

With Al Ain needing to win, Esteghlal’s Mahdi Rahmati was by far the busier of the goalkeepers in an entertaining opening 45 minutes with the visiting custodian called into action on numerous occasions.

The most eye-catching came after 22 minutes as Rahmati had to be on his toes to push a dipping effort from midfielder Mohamed Abdulrahman over the crossbar before turning away a close range effort from defender Ismail Ahmed with his feet.

Al Ain continued to press in the second half as Jires Kembo-Ekoko curled an effort just wide of the upright eight minutes after the hour mark.

But with12 minutes remaining Esteghlal substitute Siavash Akbarpour was adjudged to have been bundled over by Al Ain replacement Mohamed Ahmad Gharib inside the area and Nekonam fired high past goalkeeper Dawoud Sulaiman at the second time of asking.

Al Ain continued to press and Rahmati again came to Esteghlal’s rescue in stoppage time as the goalkeeper saved at the feet of substitute Ali Al Wehaibi following good work from Omar Abdulrahman.