“With the successful conclusion of the AFC Champions League 2020 (West) in Qatar recently, as well as the upcoming preparations to host the East region matches next month, the AFC noted that the QFA met all the necessary hosting capability and capacity and medical infrastructure to host the Final of Asia’s premier club competition,” added the AFC.

This is while Iranian fans were expecting the holding of the match in Tehran as Persepolis is one side of the final and the final of 2019 edition had been staged in the East Zone.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly made the decision on the venue for this year’s Final more complex particularly in these uncertain times of travel and health restrictions,” AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said.

“In addition to the numerous restrictions, the AFC also wanted to protect the important principle of sporting fair play. This will be, unlike previous years, a one-off final and we therefore needed to ensure that there was no unfair advantage to one team or the other.”

“The safety and wellbeing of all participating clubs as well as the protection of all stakeholders has been crucial to the AFC so we must thank the Qatar Football Association and the Qatar Local Authorities and Ministries for putting in place the necessary health measures and effective medical protocols,” he said, adding, “The successful staging of the AFC Champions League (West) is testament to the capability of the QFA and the Qatar Government and we now look forward to building on the spirit of collaboration as we prepare to resume the captivating action from the East Group Stage to the Final.”

Additionally, the AFC also had to consider the ability of the host to deliver such requirements among others, the Video Assistant Referee technical arrangements, medical requirements and commercial obligations.

QFA Secretary General Mansoor Mohammed Al-Ansari, said: “Given the success of hosting the centralised West region matches in close collaboration with the AFC, and the preparation for the centralised East matches next month, we are confident that we will be able to deliver an outstanding AFC Champions League Final.”

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Persepolis had previously defeated Al Sadd twice and lost once to the Qataris in the current season.

In the match held in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in front of 90,000 spectators, the tournament top scorer Baghdad Bounedjah silenced the stadium, finishing off a first time shot with aplomb past the outstretched arms of Alireza Beiranvand in the 17th minute.

Shortly after, Persepolis put the visiting team under pressure to find the back of the net.

Four minutes into the second half, Siamak Nemati volleyed in Godwin Mensha’s cross from the left to make it 1-1 and put his side back in front on aggregate.

Persepolis goalkeeper Beiranvand shone in the 86th minute and produced a brilliant save to unmarked Xavi Hernandez’s header.

Persepolis, who appeared in their second successive semi-finals, had already defeated the UAE’s Al Jazira and Al Duhail of Qatar in the last 16 and quarter-finals respectively.

No side from Iran have ever won the title, meanwhile, with runners-up finishes for Sepahan in 2007 and Zob Ahan in 2010 the closest the country has come to continental glory.

The Iranian Reds will face either Suwon Samsung Bluewings from South Korea or Japan’s Kashima Antlers.

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Iran’s national basketball players could not advance to the final match of Atlas Basketball Challenge after they were narrowly beaten by Nigeria.

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 Iran men’s national sitting volleyball team beat Ukraine in the semi-final of 2018 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships and earned ticket to Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

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The French striker scored a goal in each half, but Los Blancos had to withstand a furious charge from Bayern Munich, who got an early goal from Joshua Kimmich and a second-half score from James Rodriguez to make for a dramatic final half-hour.

In the end though, as they always seemingly do in Europe, Real emerged victorious and will now take aim at a 13th Champions League crown later this month in Kiev.

With Dani Carvajal and Isco both out injured, manager Zinedine Zidane had to do some shuffling to his starting XI, with Lucas Vazquez slotting in at right-back and Mateo Kovacic in midfield, while the odd man out was Casemiro. Also getting a start was Karim Benzema up top with Cristiano Ronaldo, while the bench beckoned for Gareth Bale.

Bayern came out flying and taking a page out of Juventus’ book, they scored very early to put the Bernabeu on edge. Thomas Muller played a dangerous ball into the Real area and when Sergio Ramos failed to clear, Kimmich was there to pounce and fire in past Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas to give Bayern a 1-0 lead.

The reaction from Real was almost immediate. A 28-pass sequence from Real ended with Marcelo floating a cross over to Benzema, who was left unmarked by David Alba, and the Frenchman guided a header into net to make it 1-1.

The back and forth between the two clubs was exhilarating, and the Munich side could not believe their misfortune shortly after the half-hour mark when they spoiled two golden opportunities. A slaloming solo run from Mats Hummels saw the centre-back play in for Robert Lewandowski, whose shot was blocked high up into the air by Navas. James came flying in hoping to score off the deflection but missed badly over the crossbar from just two metres out.

Bayern would get one last look before intermission and they felt aggrieved when a James cross struck Marcelo’s hand in the penalty area, but their protestations were ignored by referee Cuneyt Cukir.

As good as Bayern were in the first-half, they were shockingly bad to start the second. Corentin Tolisso played an ill-advised back-pass to goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, which he astoundingly allowed to pass underneath him and Benzema could not have asked for an easier goal to give Real a 2-1 lead in the match and 4-2 on aggregate.

Bayern were down but not out and Navas had to react quickly to deny Alaba’s deflected shot that appeared goal-bound. But forced to throw numbers forward, the Germans were leaving themselves exposed in the back and they were lucky that Ronaldo did not make them pay when he missed badly off a Marcelo cross.

It was only fitting though that this tie between two European giants would be on a knife’s edge heading into the final 30 minutes or so, and James duly set the stage for a dramatic finale by scoring Bayern’s second. The Colombian smacked a volley that was blocked, but he swooped in and scored the rebound to make it 2-2 in the match and just 4-3 to Real in the tie.

Zidane needed his team to regain control, so Casemiro and Bale were called on to handle matters, replacing Kovacic and Benzema, respectively. But it was Navas who had to shine bright again, this time making a reaction save of a Tolisso chance from close-range.

Even the most casual of observers were likely biting their nails in the final minutes, as Bayern lurched desperately for a tie-clinching score. Twice the goal was there for the Bavarians, but Navas came to the rescue on each. With just seconds remaining there was one last ball and it was there for Muller to be the hero, but he wasn’t able to get on the end of a cross right as Cukir brought the final whistle to his lips.

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Iran piled on the pressure from the beginning, keeping Uzbekistan in their half, and it paid off early with Mahdi Javid finding the back of the net with his strike to the bottom left corner in the third minute.

A minute later, Uzbekistan crossed to the attacking third without their full force and were punished when Ahmad Esmaeilpour regained possession and surged down the flank before passing it off to skipper Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh for a fine finish to double their lead.

The 11-time champions showed their prowess once again with their quick ability to move down the pitch, and in the 11th minute, Hassanzadeh turned provider as his blind pass into the box found Hossein Tayebi for a close range strike.

Hassanzadeh and Javid formed Iran’s dynamic duo, as the captain earned two more assists to his name in the 16th minute with Javid completing his hat-trick with back-to-back goals in similar fashion.

In the second half, Uzbekistan returned with aggression and were more synergised in their movements and passes, which limited Iran’s opportunities on target.

Mohammad Nazemasharieh’s side showed that they were formidable in set-pieces as well, and Hassanzadeh earned his second with a simple tap in to make it 6-0 in the 31st minute, before Tayebi also scored his second of the match four minutes later.

Anaskhon Rakhmatov scored a consolation goal in the last 20 seconds of the game, courtesy of Farkod Adbdumavlyanov’s pass, but it was too little too late as Iran sealed a 13th final appearance.

Iran will meet Japan in the final on Sunday, while Uzbekistan will play Iraq in the third place play-off.

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