Sepahan's task was made difficult after just 19 minutes when Mohsen Bengar was shown a red card and Al Ittihad opened the scoring a minute later through Venezuelan striker Jesus Gomes.

And although Sepahan pressed for an equaliser, Abdulfatah Al Agha added a second in the closing minutes to make sure of the points.

Al Ittihad took the lead from their first attack when Yahia Al Rached was brought down by Bengar and Australian referee Benjamin William immediately brandished the red card.

Gomez stepped up to send the resulting free-kick beyond goalkeeper Abbas Mohammadi and into the back of the net.

Despite the blow, Sepahan came close to equalising with a free-kick of their own in the 28th minute when Hossein Kazemi's effort flew just over the crossbar.

Sepahan refused to switch to defensive tactics and continued to search for an equaliser after the break and in the 54th minute Iraqi striker Emad Mohamad hit a shot goalwards that Mahmoud Karkar did well to save,

Two minutes later, Abolheil brushed past two defenders before despatching a shot that went wide before his pass in the 68th minute set-up Emad Mohamad, whose shot just went wide of the post.

Al Ittihad nearly scored from a quick counter attack two minutes later when Mahmoud Al Amna, with only the goalkeeper to beat, sent his shot wide.

With 15 minutes remaining Hossein Papi crossed into the box for Emad Mahamad, whose header flew over the crossbar.

But, three minutes before full time, Al Ittihad finally grabbed a second when Abdulfatah Al Agha picked up the ball in his own half and ran all the way unchallenged into the Sepahan box before sending a powerful shot into the back of the net.