AFC Champions League: Xavi's Al Sadd sets up Al-Nassr showdown

Al Sadd saw off Al Duhail in the AFC Champions League last 16, while Al-Hilal survived against Al-Ahli.

Published : Aug 14, 2019 08:56 IST

Al Sadd head coach Xavi
Al Sadd head coach Xavi
lightbox-info

Al Sadd head coach Xavi

Al Sadd triumphed in an all-Qatari AFC Champions League last-16 tie with a 3-1 victory over Al Duhail on Tuesday.

Xavi's side was the more clinical at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium as it secured a 4-2 aggregate triumph over its Stars League rivals.

It will face Al Nassr in the quarterfinals, the Saudi Arabian side having beaten Al Wahda on Monday in the first knockout round.

Al Duhail made the early running in pursuit of a goal to swing the tie in their favour, following a 1-1 first leg draw, but Al Sadd went ahead against the run of play after 20 minutes through Akram Afif, who had a simple finish after an unselfish pass from Baghdad Bounedjah.

Bounedjah hit the post before Al Sadd got its second 11 minutes before the break, Abdelkarim Hassan blasting home a free-kick.

Edmilson got a goal back before the hour mark, but Al Sadd made certain of victory when Ahmed Yasser put into his own net in injury time, and Mohammed Muntari was sent off for violent conduct as Al Duhail frustrations boiled over.

In the later match, Al Hilal edged through 4-3 on aggregate despite a 1-0 defeat to Al Ahli in Riyadh.

The Group C winners appeared in control after a 4-2 first-leg win, but Abdulfattah Asiri's precise finish three minutes before the interval had King Saud University Stadium on edge.

Al-Hilal survived the second half unscathed, though, and will meet Al Ittihad in the last eight.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment