Nasser Al-Shamrani’s winning goal secured a first-leg 2-1 win for Al Shabab in their AFC Champions League round-of-16 clash with Al Gharafa.
Nasser Al-Shamrani’s winning goal secured a first-leg 2-1 win for Al Shabab in their AFC Champions League round-of-16 clash with Al Gharafa.
Michel Preud’homme’s side, who won Group A, came from a goal behind to take the advantage in the tie against Al Gharafa and go into the second leg at home favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
Mark Bresciano put the Qatari club ahead just before half-time, the Australian tapping home Djibril Cisse’s header from yards out. However, a second-half strike from Sebastian Tagliabue brought the game level before Al-Shamrani popped up with seven minutes to play to win the game for the Saudi Arabian side.
The Saudi Arabia international raced onto a through ball that caught out the home defence and his measured right-foot strike was comfortably beyond the reach of Qasem Burhan
Burriam United also secured a first-leg lead as they record a 2-1 home victory over Bunyodkor. Thai midfielder Anawin Jujeen opened the scoring for Burriam in 17 minutes, but Igor Taran levelled in first-half injury time for the Uzbek side with a neat volley.
Ekkachai Sumrei won the game for the hosts, who are the first Thai club in a decade to advance past the group stage in the competition, with a glancing header with 14 minutes to play
The other two matches on Tuesday ended level. Qatari side El Jaish came from a goal behind to earn themselves a 1-1 draw against Al Ahli.
Motaz Almosa’s header gave the Saudi Arabian side the lead in first-half injury time but just after the hour they were forced to change their goalkeeper as Yasser Al Mosailem was stretchered off with a head injury after clashing with El Jaish-s Brazilian striker Wagner Ribeiro, the 29-year-old leaving the field on a stretcher and receiving oxygen.
Substitute goalkeeper Abdullah Almuaiouf could not keep the hosts out, though, as El Jaish captain Anderson came to their rescue with a low shot into the bottom corner with 14 minutes to play.
The final game saw FC Seoul travel to China to face Beijing Guoan, and they were able to hang onto a 0-0 draw despite playing the last half hour with 10 men.
Tackles on Frederic Kanoute and Zhang Xizhe earned full-back Choi Hyo-jin two yellow cards in eight second-half minutes but despite late pressure his side were able to hold on.
