Al-Rayyan SC, a major football club from Qatar, has recently faced a series of challenging and exciting matches in the AFC Champions League. Despite a tough 3-1 defeat to Iran’s Esteghlal in their latest encounter, the team has shown resilience throughout the competition. The match, held on February 12, 2025, marked the conclusion of the group stage, with Esteghlal advancing to the next round. Earlier, Al-Rayyan managed a 1-1 draw against Persepolis, another Iranian side, showcasing their fighting spirit even when facing tough competition. Although their results have been mixed, with a notable victory over Esteghlal Dushanbe in 2022, Al-Rayyan continues to demonstrate determination and skill in each match. As the team looks ahead, they remain committed to improving their performance and striving for better results in upcoming tournaments.
Al-Rayyan’s Defeat to Esteghlal
In a crucial encounter, Al-Rayyan suffered a 3-1 defeat against Iran’s Esteghlal. The match, held on February 12, 2025, concluded the group stage of the AFC Champions League. Substitute Boubacar Keita netted two goals for Esteghlal in the 54th and 73rd minutes, with teammate Mohammad Ghazi adding another in the 60th minute. Al-Rayyan’s sole goal came from substitute Fahd Khalfan in the 81st minute. This result left Al-Rayyan at the bottom of the group with three points, while Esteghlal advanced with seven points.
Al-Rayyan’s Draw with Persepolis
Earlier, on November 25, 2024, Al-Rayyan played to a 1-1 draw against Iran’s Persepolis. The match took place at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan. Persepolis took the lead in the 17th minute through Farshad Ahmadzadeh, but Al-Rayyan equalized in the 57th minute with a header from Moroccan player Ashraf Bencherki. This draw added to Al-Rayyan’s mixed results in the group stage.
Al-Rayyan’s Victory Over Esteghlal Dushanbe
In a more favorable outcome, Al-Rayyan secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Tajikistan’s Esteghlal Dushanbe on April 8, 2022. The match was held at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. Esteghlal Dushanbe initially led with a goal in the 3rd minute, but Al-Rayyan responded with goals from Yacine Brahimi and Johan Boly, ending the first half 2-1 in their favor. Despite Esteghlal Dushanbe’s equalizer in the 67th minute, Al-Rayyan clinched the win with a decisive goal from Boly in the 71st minute.