Hossein Papi gave the 2007 AFC Champions League runners-up the lead after only two minutes before Hadi Asghari and Hamid Azizzadeh wrapped up the win with second-half goals for the Iranian side.

However, the win was not enough for Sepahan, who had been eliminated after losing 2-1 to Al Shabab in the United Arab Emirates two weeks ago.

Ettifaq had sealed top spot after winning four straight games but the Saudi side fell behind just two minutes after the opening whistle when Mahdi Jafarpour’s low cross from the right found Papi who fired home from close range with a left-footed shot.

The home side should have doubled their advantage four minutes later when Azizzadeh put a powerful header just wide of the right post.

Ettifaq went close to getting an equaliser in the 11th minute when Syrian midfielder Mohanad Al Ibrahim saw his powerful shot just clear the crossbar but the hosts threatened again just seconds later as Hadi Asghari’s powerful shot was stopped by Ettifaq goalkeeper Hussain Shaian.

Papi went close to his second in the 21st minute as his header was denied by Shaian while Ettifaq had opportunities with Al Ibrahim shooting just wide and Abdulrahman Al Qahtani forcing a good save out of Sepahan goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi with the best chance of the half for the visitors.

Sepahan remained a goal ahead at the interval but began the second half well and doubled their advantage in the 52nd minutes when Asghari out-jumped two Ettifaq defenders to head past Shaian.

Ettifaq tried to get back into the game but created only one chance of note in the second half minute when a header by Moroccan midfielder Salah Aqqal went straight at Ahmadi in the 56th.

The home side sealed the win with nine minutes remaining when Hadi Jafari’s corner from the right was headed home by Azizzadeh.