AFC - Two goals from Syrian striker Omar Al Soma ensured Al Ahli remained at the summit of Group D as the Saudi side secured a 2-2 draw at Iran’s Tractorsazi Tabriz in their AFC Champions League Matchday Four clash at the Yadegar Emam Stadium on Tuesday.

After an uneventful first half the hosts took the lead on the hour-mark in Tabriz through Brazilian striker Edinho but Al Soma tied things up for Al Ahli in the 72nd minute with a powerful effort from close range.

The Iranians then went in front again in the 75th minute through a header from midfielder Shahin Saghebi, but the visitors fought back strongly and equalised in the 89th minute through Al Soma to ensure they hold on to top spot in the group with eight points from four games.

Tractorsazi, meanwhile, have four points from their four matches thus far but will also now be without Farshad Ahmadzadeh after the midfielder was sent off in the closing stage of the game.

Gross profits from positive spirit as Al Soma secures precious point

The home side had the better of the opening stages and had their first attempt on goal in the third minute when midfielder Farid Karimi’s powerful strike from the edge of the box was well tipped over by Al Ahli keeper Abdullah Al Maiouf.

The Saudis then had their first effort on the 20-minute mark, but Al Soma’s dipping free-kick from 20 yards flew over goalkeeper Hamed Lak’s crossbar.

And although the Iranians enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half, they created little by way of clear-cut opportunities and the sides went in level at the interval.

Tractorsazi started the second period the stronger and should have gone in front in the 58th minute when Ahmadzadeh’s floated cross from the right fell to the unchallenged Edinho just five yards out but his weak effort was parried by Al Maiouf, and when the ball landed back at the striker’s feet his second attempt was pushed round the post by the keeper.

But just seconds later the Brazilian made amends after the ensuing corner was only half cleared by the Al Ahli defence and when the ball fell to him 16 yards out, his deflected left-foot curler looped over the unfortunate Al Maiouf.

The hosts continued to dominate possession but 18 minutes from time Al Ahli levelled against the run of play when Al Soma, chasing onto a ball into the box, managed to outmuscle defender Khaled Shafiei on the left side of the six yard box before firing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

The home side were in front again just three minutes later, though, when Andranik Teymourian’s corner from the right was headed down and into the back of the net by Saghebi.

Al Ahli pushed hard for the equaliser and Al Soma was unlucky to see his powerful free-kick hammer against the top of the bar and over with five minutes to go.

But the Syrian was not to be denied and with a minute left on the clock a long free-kick by custodian Al Maiouf fell at the feet of defender Aqeel Al Sahabi who cut the ball back for Al Soma to fire home from eight yards.

And the striker could have wrapped up an incredible hat-trick in a frantic final few minutes had his effort from inside the box not been well stopped by Lak in the Tractorsazi goal, before Ahmadzadeh was shown a straight red in the dying seconds after a confrontation with Al Ahli captain Taiseer Al Jassam.