AFC - Sepahan kept their AFC Champions League Round of 16 hopes very much alive with a convincing 4-0 win over Qatari visitors Al Sadd at Isfahan City’s Foolad Shar Stadium on Tuesday.

A goalless and largely uneventful first half exploded into life after the interval with Mehdi Sharifi curling home on 46 minutes and then doubling the lead on 55 minutes.

Substitute Xhevahir Sukaj added a third goal just eight minutes later and an own goal from Al Sadd defender Ibrahim Majed deep into stoppage time completed the rout.

Knowing nothing less than victory would keep their knockout stage hopes alive, Sepahan began the Group D game at a furious tempo as they pushed back their Qatari visitors right from the kick-off.

But, despite their endeavor, they struggled to create many chances of note in the opening half hour with the visitors keeping them at bay and both goalkeepers largely reduced to bystanders.

But with six minutes of the half remaining Shojae Khalilzadeh had the ball in the net when he stabbed home from close range following a set-piece, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.

And with the last action of the first half Sharifi gave notice of his ability with a shot on the turn on the edge of the penalty area that Saad Al Sheeb pushed wide with a sprawling dive.

The warning went unheeded, though, and the same player needed just a minute after the restart to give his side the lead they craved.

Robbing Al Sadd captain Nadir Belhadj of the ball 20 yards away from goal, Sharifi bent a sumptuous curling shot into the top-right corner leaving Al Sheeb with no chance.

And less than 10 minutes later the 21-year-old had his brace.

This time a piercing through ball from Hossein Papi found Sharifi inside the box and, although the pass was slightly behind him, the forward managed to get the ball out from under his feet, bypass the sliding Ibrahim Majed and fire past Al Sheeb to double Sepahan’s lead.

Shortly after, Sharifi’s strike-partner Sergio Van Dijk was replaced in a like-for-like replacement by Albanian striker Sukaj and the 26-year-old needed little time in announcing his presence on the field with a goal.

Showing clever feet on the right flank, Sukaj tricked his way past Korean defender Lee Jung-soo and into shooting range on the edge of the area where he unleashed a fizzing left-footed drive that flew into the net with Al Sheeb motionless.

Al Sadd worked hard to reduce the deficit but with Sepahan content to sit back and hit on the counter attack the Iranians proved too difficult to breakdown.

And the lead became four goals on the 92nd minute as a cross from Sepahan substitute Yaghoub Karimi was turned into his own net by Majed to add the final icing on the cake for Sepahan.