Al Sadd seal spot in AFC Champions League last 16

Qatari side Al Sadd confirmed their place in the 2019 AFC Champions League Round of 16 with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Group D yesterday.
The hosts showed their attacking intent from the start, creating their first big chance inside 60 seconds of kick-off. Akram Afif and Xavi exchanged passes down the right and the Spanish midfielder squared the ball for Baghdad Bounedjah who took it first time, but Al Ahli goalkeeper Mohamed al-Owais showed quick reflexes to catch the ball.
Jesualdo Ferreira’s side looked to apply high pressure to regain possession deep into the opposition half. Afif was successful in doing so in the ninth minute when he dispossessed Saeed al-Muwallad and then supplied a perfectly weighted diagonal pass to Ali Asad.
Asad controlled the ball and hit on the half-volley with his left past al-Owais for Al Sadd’s first of the night.
Al Ahli’s defensive struggles continued as they failed to deal with an Al Sadd corner kick, allowing the ball to fall for Xavi inside the box.
The Al Sadd captain placed his ball into the bottom corner, but al-Owais made the save. Afif was quickest to the spilled ball and finished composedly from a very tight angle to double the hosts’ lead after just 12 minutes.
The first half could have ended with a hammering, had it not been for al-Owais whose goalkeeping skills denied Bounedjah on multiple occasions.
Al Ahli started the second half on the front foot and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty kick when defender Tarek Salman handled Abdulfattah Assiri’s cross. Omar al-Somah stepped up and drilled home from the spot to half the deficit.
Al-Owais made another fine save after Bounedjah was sent through on goal by a Xavi through pass.
In the 71st minute, the Algerian was finally successful in beating the Al Ahli keeper, placing his header from Xavi’s cross into the far corner. However, Brazilian defender Aderllan Santos produced a goal-line clearance to limit the score to 2-1.
Earlier, Qatar’s Al Duhail became the first West Asian team to book their place in the Round of 16 after earning a point in a 1-1 draw against Iran’s Esteghlal FC in Tehran yesterday.