It finally clicks into place for Al Wahda against Persepolis

Abu Dhabi side finish Asian Champions League adventure with victory.

ABU DHABI // Al Wahda bowed out of the Asian Champions League with a consolation victory over Persepolis of Iran in a dead rubber at the Al Nahyan Stadium in the capital last night.

Salem Saleh put the Pro League champions ahead in the 13th minute with a powerful shot after a flowing move that started on their own goal-line.

Mutaz Abdulla, the Wahda goalkeeper, sent a long ball towards al Shehhi, who worked down the left flank before slipping it towards Saleh to scamper through two defenders before unleashing a rocket from inside the box.

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Saleh had squandered an early opportunity to draw first blood. His effort was weak and wide after Hugo, the Brazilian midfielder, had put Hassan Amin in the clear to set up Saleh inside the box.

Abdulla did well to hold on to the ball as he dived at the feet of Mohammad Nori as he tried to dribble past him.

Nori was also unlucky when his shot crashed against the crossbar two minutes before the break.

Mohammed al Shehhi doubled the lead for Wahda with a low header from a cross by Fahed Masoud 20 minutes from time.

The result had no bearing in the Group C as both, Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia and Bunyodkor of Uzbekistan, had already secured the two places in the knockout phase of the competition.

Wahda finished third in the four-team group, taking their tally to six points from six games.

Al Ittihad and Bunyodkor played out the group's final match late last night.