Afif made one and scored a stunner to inspire the Qatari side to a comeback victory as they stayed in the hunt for a third Asian title.
Just like a week ago, Al Wasl seized the early initiative and went ahead in the 10th minute when Alexis Perez’ cross was met with a sweet first-time finish by Fabio de Lima into the bottom corner that gave Meshaal Barsham in Al Sadd’s goal no chance.
The goal stunned Al Sadd into action with captain Afif leading by example, producing a long range effort that was pushed away by Khaled al-Senani in the 24th minute before notching his second assist in consecutive matches.
Two-time AFC Player of the Year Afif drove into the box from the left in the 27th minute before cutting back for Moustafa Mashal to sweep home to draw Al Sadd level. Al Sadd pushed on and took the lead three minutes later after Youcef Atal jinked his way into the box with his attempted cross deflecting off Jung Seung-hyun to wrong-foot Al Senani and end up in the back of the net.
With confidence soaring, Al Sadd increased their lead in the 37th minute when Afif played a short free-kick to Claudinho, received the pass back and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Al Wasl thought they had pulled one back in the 58th minute when Joao Pedro climbed highest to nod towards goal but Barsham clawed the ball away.
A trio of substitutions just after the hour mark from Al Wasl saw Jonatas Santos, Takashi Uchino and Caio Canedo entering the fray but apart from one weak Canedo overhead attempt, the Emirati side showed little signs of getting back into the game as Al Sadd booked their place in the last eight.
Huge task awaits Rayyan
against Ahli in Jeddah
Qatar’s Al Rayyan SC will have a tough a task of overturning a two-goal deficit against Saudi’s Al Ahli in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite last 16 tie at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah today.
Al Ahli produced a commanding performance in the first leg and had they been more clinical, their place in the quarter-finals would have been sealed last week. With Roberto Firmino and Riyad Mahrez in fine form, Al Ahli will expect to safely navigate past Al Rayyan in the second leg.
Al Ahli needed a 90th minute goal from Galeno to salvage a draw with Al Khaleej in a Saudi Pro League tie on Friday and the Jeddah-based side will be determined to avoid such drama against Al Rayyan.
The result kept them in fifth place in the Saudi Pro League standings but Al Ahli have been a totally different side in the AFC Champions League Elite – with last week’s victory against Al Rayyan their eighth in nine matches.
Unbeaten in their last 14 games on the continent, Firmino and Mahrez have been at the front end of their challenge and having scored in all nine matches this season, it is hard to see Al Ahli not advancing to the quarter-finals for the sixth time and first since the 2020 season.
Al Rayyan felt they deserved more from the first leg but wastefulness in front of goal meant they were punished by a rampant Al Ahli and the Qatari side can’t afford to hold back on Tuesday if they are to make the quarter-finals for the first time.
That, however, is easier said than done as not only did Al Rayyan lose both their home matches against Al Ahli this season but have only won one of their nine away ties against Saudi Arabian sides.
Roger Guedes will be key to their hopes of a comeback – the Brazilian’s effort in the first leg meaning he has scored four of the nine goals Al Rayyan have to their name in the AFC Champions League Elite – with the forward also netting once in their 5-1 win against Al Khor in a QSS on Friday.
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