Al Ain stood tall during a tough trip to Iran?s freezing capital ? controlling possession, creating better chances and seeing goalkeeper Khalid Essa in defiant mood when pegged back in the final stages. Such assured displays should see last year?s semi-finalists through a tricky Group B also containing Al Shabab Riyadh and next opponents Pakhtakor, who shared a 2-2 draw last night. Mitigation also came from a demanding recent schedule, plus a lack of full-match fitness for attacking sparks Jires Kembo Ekoko and Miroslav Stoch seeing long balls pursued rather than counters.