Iran's Foolad Sepahan player Sergi Van Dijk (L-bottom) attempts to score a goal as Saudi's Al-Hilal player Sultan Al-Bishi (L) tries to block him during their AFC Champions League football match at King Fahad stadium in Riyadh Tuesday. — AFP

RIYADH — Al Hilal advanced to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League for a seventh consecutive time as a goal by Nassir Al Shamrani in first-half stoppage time gave the Saudi club a 1-0 win over Iranian side Sepahan at the King Fahad International Stadium on Tuesday.



Al Shamrani rifled a shot into the bottom corner of the net after beating the Sepahan offside trap to secure the points for the home side which sent them to the top of Group D.



For all of their endeavour, Sepahan rarely threatened an equaliser which would have seen them through to the last 16 at the expense of the Al Hilal. As a result, they finished bottom of the group and missed the knockout stage for a second straight season.