Adam Ounas converted a penalty during injury time to secure a 2-1 victory for Al-Sadd against Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr on Monday, which advances the Qatari side to the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League Elite.
Al-Sadd Joins Saudi Teams in the Last 16
The victory allows Al-Sadd to join the three Saudi teams Al-Nassr, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo during their defeat in Riyadh, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli in securing their places in the round of 16 of the updated continental tournament.
Al-Ahli Unbeaten Run Ends
Al-Ahli required two penalties from Ivan Toney to secure a 2-2 tie against Esteghlal, marking the end of the Jeddah-based club’s flawless home record. In the meantime, Al-Wasl played to a 1-1 draw with Al-Rayyan, and Persepolis defeated Al-Shorta 2-1.
Al-Ahli’s draw marks the first occasion the Jeddah-based team has lost points in the tournament, following five straight victories that ensured their advancement to the knockout stage of the competition.
Group Leaders and Upcoming Matches
The team led by Matthias Jaissle has 16 points from six games and is still three points ahead of Al-Hilal, who will play Al-Gharafa of Qatar on Tuesday.
Knockout Stage Format
The top eight teams from the league standings in the west and east advance to the round of 16, which is set for March.
Half of the places on the western side of the draw are now occupied, thanks to Al-Sadd’s last-minute victory, which has secured Felix Sanchez’s team a spot in the knockout stages.
Key Moments in the Al-Sadd vs. Al-Nassr Match
Afif First-Half Brilliance
Afif, who is the current Asian Player of the Year, put Al-Sadd in front after sprinting from the halfway line to smoothly finish past goalkeeper Bento in the 53rd minute.
Saiss Own Goal Equalizes
Al-Sadd’s Romain Saiss deflected Wesley’s dangerous cross from the left into his own goal in the 80th minute, but after Afif was fouled in the penalty area during injury time, Ounas seized the chance to score the game-winning goal.
Al-Ahli’s Resilience Against Esteghlal
Al-Ahli, on the other hand, had to come from behind on two occasions after falling behind, initially trailing when Rafael Silva scored for Iran’s Esteghlal with a volley past Edouardo Mendy just three minutes before halftime.
Toney’s Crucial Penalty Goals
Toney equalized by converting a penalty eight minutes into stoppage time following a foul by Didier Ndong on Fahad Al-Rashidi. However, Esteghlal regained the lead six minutes into the second half when Mohammad Hossein Eslami’s shot bounced over Mendy.
Late Drama in Al-Ahli’s Match
Eslami’s dismissal with nine minutes remaining put more pressure on the visitors, and a second penalty kick from Toney with four minutes remaining allowed the home team to salvage a point.
Other Key ACL Results
Persepolis Earns First Win
Mohannad Ali gave the Iraqis the lead with a well-judged lob in the 19th minute, but Oston Urunov and a penalty kick from Giorgi Gvelesiani in the 103rd minute gave Persepolis their first win of the competition against Al-Shorta.
Al-Wasl and Al-Rayyan Share Points
Meanwhile, Caio Canedo’s opening goal for Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates in the 77th minute was countered eight minutes later by an own goal from Salem Al-Azizi, earning Qatar Al-Rayyan a point in the clubs’ meeting in Dubai.
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