Doha: Al Ain became the first team to secure their place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League as the UAE side produced a vibrant performance to hammer Qatari champions Lekhwiya 5-0 yesterday.
Al Ain romped to a decisive win at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium with Asamoah Gyan scoring twice after he had helped to set up earlier goals for Ibrahim Diaky, Alex Brosque and Mohamed Abdulrahman.
While Al Ain can now prepare for the Round of 16, Lekhwiya, who reached the quarter-finals last year, have been all but eliminated after they suffered their heaviest-ever defeat in the AFC Champions League.
In Isfahan, Sepahan kept their AFC Champions League Round of 16 hopes very much alive with a convincing 4-0 win over Qatari visitors Al Sadd at Isfahan City’s Foolad Shar Stadium yesterday.
A goalless and largely uneventful first half exploded into life after the interval with Mehdi Sharifi curling home on 46 minutes and then doubling the lead on 55 minutes.
Substitute Xhevahir Sukaj added a third goal just eight minutes later and an own goal from Al Sadd defender Ibrahim Majed deep into stoppage time completed the rout. The hosts took the lead with six minutes of the half remaining Shojae Khalilzadeh had the ball in the net when he stabbed home from close range following a set-piece, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
And with the last action of the first half Sharifi gave notice of his ability with a shot on the turn on the edge of the penalty area that Saad Al Sheeb pushed wide with a sprawling dive.
The warning went unheeded, though, and the same player needed just a minute after the restart to give his side the lead they craved. Robbing Al Sadd captain Nadir Belhadj of the ball 20 yards away from goal, Sharifi bent a sumptuous curling shot into the top-right corner leaving Al Sheeb with no chance. And less than 10 minutes later the 21-year-old had his brace. This time a piercing through ball from Hossein Papi found Sharifi inside the box and, although the pass was slightly behind him, the forward managed to get the ball out from under his feet, bypass the sliding Ibrahim Majed and fire past Al Sheeb to double Sepahan’s lead. AGENCIES
