Mame Thiam scored the only goal of the game as Esteghlal defeated Khooneh be Khooneh to round off its domestic season in style as the Tehran side’s strong recent form, which includes topping Group D with an unbeaten record, continued.
Esteghlal has now not been beaten in 15 games in a run that stretches back to early February, when Tuesday’s opponent Zob Ahan secured a 2-1 victory in Isfahan in the Iranian Professional League, before ultimately finishing in second place, a point in front of Esteghlal in third.
On the continent, meanwhile, Zob Ahan finished as Group B runner-up after a 1-1 Matchday Six draw with Lokomotiv ensured it qualified ahead of the Uzbek side by virtue of a better head-to-head record.
The 2010 runner-up Zobahan is competing in the last 16 for the second time in three years but has not been beyond this stage since 2011, the-AFC wrote.
Esteghlal, who has Omid Ebrahimi and Roozbeh Cheshmi available after suspension, last progressed beyond this stage in 2013 when it reached the semi-final.