Al-Taawoun kicked off their 2022 AFC Champions League campaign with 2-1 win over Al-Duhail of Qatar at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Buraidah on Thursday night.

The Saudi club鈥檚 first three points in Group D were secured thanks to Leandre Tawamba鈥檚 equalizer in the 11 minute and Alvaro Medran鈥檚 winner four minutes from time, overturning Edmilson鈥檚 eighth-minute opener for Al-Duhail.

The result puts Al-Taawoun in second place in the group, behind Iranian club Sepahan on goal difference.

It was Al-Duhail who struck first, with Brazilian forward Edmilson taking advantage of a mistake by goalkeeper Muataz Al-Bagawi and defender Rayan Al-Mousa. But the Qatari team鈥檚 advantage lasted just three minutes before the Cameroonian Tawamba levelled by chipping Zakaria Hassan in Al-Duhail鈥檚 goal.

After the equalizer, Al-Taawoun鈥檚 momentum stalled, with Al-Duhail regaining control of the match and threatening Al-Bagawi鈥檚 goal on more than one occasion, but the first half ended without an addition to the scoreline.

Al-Duhail started the second half in the ascendency and once again forced Al-Taawoun to defend deep and play on the counter.

The Saudi team finally swung the tie their way thanks to the Spaniard Medran鈥檚 winner on 86 minutes. He collected a smart pass from Tawamba before finishing past Hassan to secure a vital 2-1 win.

Al-Taawoun will next face Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan on Sunday, while Al-Duhail will meet Sepahan on the same day.