Tractor FC of Iran fought back to defeat Al Duhail SC of Qatar 2-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite on December 22, 2025. The victory in Tabriz guaranteed Tractor's place in the round of 16 with 14 points from six matches. Al Duhail now faces an uphill battle to advance from Group B.
In a thrilling Matchday 6 encounter of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 group stage, Tractor FC hosted Al Duhail SC in Tabriz and came from behind to claim a 2-1 win. The match, part of Group B's Week 6 out of eight, saw Tractor move to second place behind Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia.
Al Duhail struck first in the 35th minute. Mohammad Naderi tripped Edmilson Junior in the penalty area, allowing Benjamin Bourigeaud to convert the spot-kick confidently and give the Qatari side the lead against the run of play.
Tractor responded aggressively after halftime. Early in the second half, goalkeeper Bautista Burke had to rush off his line to deny Mahdi Hashmenezhad, set up by a precise through ball from Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh. The equalizer arrived in the 51st minute when Tibor Halilovic's curling free-kick hit the post. Captain Shojae Khalilzadeh remained composed to side-foot the rebound into the net, leveling the score.
The game appeared headed for a draw until stoppage time. In the 90+3rd minute, Hosseinzadeh unleashed a deflected shot from distance that beat Burke, securing the three points for Dragan Skocic's Tractor. Djamel Belmadi's Al Duhail, despite the early advantage, must now win upcoming matches to challenge for progression.
This result confirms Tractor's top-eight finish in the West Zone with 14 points, ensuring their advancement to the knockout stage. The Iranian club demonstrated resilience, turning the tie around after conceding first.
