Persepolis’ Faraji sent as flying volley over the bar in the fifth minute and Florinel Coman smashed his right-foot shot wide of the Iranian side’s goal in a lively opening from both sides.

The tempo soon dropped and, while Joselu’s spectacular overhead kick was kept out by the Persepolis defence in the 20th minute, neither side was able to make much attacking headway.

That changed in the 38th minute, when Oston Urunov’s low drive looked destined for the bottom corner of the Al Gharafa goal until Sergio Rico threw himself to his left to make a sprawling save to deny the Uzbekistan international.

Rico was called upon again four minutes later, this time shovelling Faraji’s close range header clear after the Persepolis defender had found space behind the Al Gharafa backline to meet Omid Alishah’s lofted free-kick into the box.

The Iranians continued to look the more likely to score following the interval, with Soroush Rafiei curling his 51st minute attempt over the bar before Faraji finally found the back of the net.

Vahid Amiri’s long throw looped deep into the Al Gharafa penalty area and, after the ball took a single bounce in the six yard box, Faraji slammed his shot past an exposed Rico.

Persepolis’ lead was to last less than three minutes, the ball falling at the feet of Al Ganehi and his first-time strike seared past Alexis Guendouz to pull the visitors level mere moments after the forward had been introduced from the Al Gharafa bench.

Yacine Brahimi then went close to putting Al Gharafa in front, just missing the top corner with a curling free-kick and Coman shot over the bar as Persepolis’ grip on the game looked increasingly tenuous.

Coman squandered another opening when he was played in on the Persepolis goal and Al Gharafa captain Ferjani Sassi had a long-range attempt deflected wide before Joselu’s weak effort was gathered by Guendouz, dropping to his left.

Brahimi was denied four minutes from time by Guendouz while Rico was called upon to make a reflex save deep into injury time from Persepolis substitute Lucas Joao in a frantic but fruitless finish.