May 7 (Reuters) - Persepolis boss Branko Ivankovic was grateful to a bumper crowd of 100,000 fans in Tehran for helping his exhausted side through to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2012.
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The weary nine-times Iranian champions overcame Uzbeks Bunyodkor 2-1 on Tuesday after an awkward 72nd minute own goal by the stretching Obin Djurabaev ensured they advanced as Group A runners-up behind Lekhwiya of Qatar.