Lekhwiya's Spanish defender Chico Flores (left) locked in an areal battle for supremacy with Al Jazira's Emirati forward Ahmed Al Attas during their AFC Champions League Group B match played at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadiun in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Lekhwiya sealed top spot in Group B and a place in the 2017 AFC Champions League Round of 16 yesterday as Djemal Belmadi’s team handed Al Jazira of the United Arab Emirates a 3-1 defeat.
Mbark Boussoufa gave Al Jazira the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute before a brace by Korea Republic international Nam Tae-hee earned Lekhwiya the upper hand, while Youssef Msakni completed the win after the home side’s Fares Juma was given a straight red card.
Lekhwiya move onto the 11 points with the win, three ahead of second-placed Esteghlal Khouzestan and a further point ahead of Al Fateh of Saudi Arabia, meaning the Qatar Stars League champions are certain to finish in pole position thanks to their superior head-to-head record with Iran's 2016 title winners.
Meanwhile, Tehran, Iran, a 1-1 draw between Esteghlal of Islamic Republic of Iran and Emirati side Al Ahli saw both sides move to the brink of qualification from Group A.
Visitors Al Ahli took a 17th minute lead in the clash at a packed Azadi Stadium, with Abdulaziz Sanqour placing the ball into the net after a neat header from striker Ahmed Khalil found him unmarked in the area.
On the half hour mark, though, only a fine low save by Majed Naser in the Ahli net prevented a Yaghoub Karimi free-kick from levelling the tie.
In the 58th minute, Esteghlal’s pressure finally told as a quick throw released Khosro Heydari whose lobbed cross was headed home by striker Kaveh Rezaei.
With neither side then able to find a winner, both teams now lie on eight points with one Group A game remaining - three points clear of both Saudi Arabia’s Al Taawoun and Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv.
In Hong Kong, two-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande moved back to the summit of Group G yesterday as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side cruised to a 6-0 win over Hong Kong champions Eastern SC.
Elsewhere, a header from Portuguese defender Ricardo Machado in the second minute of injury time earned Al Taawoun a point in an enthralling 4-4 draw with Lokomotiv on Tuesday, ensuring both sides keep alive their hopes of progression.
