Al-Ain goes top alone.. Al-Ahli stumbles and Al-Nassr advances steadily

Al Ain of the UAE took sole possession of the top spot in the unified group standings of the AFC Champions League Elite after their emphatic 4-1 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad in Jeddah. Meanwhile, Saudi club Al-Qadsia climbed to third place with a comprehensive 5-0 win over Qatar’s Al-Gharafa, capitalizing on a draw between their compatriots Al-Ahli and their hosts Al-Sadd. Al-Nassr continued their pursuit of the leaders with a second consecutive away victory, thrashing Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor 6-2 yesterday in the fourth round.

In Jeddah, Al Ain established their dominance early, with Paraguayan Alejandro Romero opening the scoring in the 17th minute. Portuguese midfielder Rafael Rodrigues doubled the lead just before halftime (42nd minute). Al-Ittihad reduced the deficit through Marwan Al-Sahafi (53rd minute), but Serbian defender Jan-Karlo Simić restored the two-goal margin for Al Ain after scoring an own goal in the 58th minute. Argentine Matías Palacios sealed the rout with a penalty kick in the 90th minute.

With this victory, Al Ain moved to 12 points from a perfect record, taking sole command of the West Group. Al-Ittihad remained on four points, sitting in 10th place. Al-Qadsia secured their second win of the tournament, drawing two matches to reach eight points, temporarily moving into third place on goal difference ahead of Al-Ahli. Al-Gharafa’s woes deepened as they suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, remaining winless and bottom of the table. Al-Qadsia’s goalscorers were Mohammed Abushammah (17th minute), Mexican Julián Quiñones (26th and 45th minutes), Yasser Al-Shahrani (43rd minute), and Mohammed Al-Qahtani (81st minute).

Meanwhile, Al-Ahli, holders of the previous two AFC Champions League Elite titles, were held to a goalless draw by hosts Al-Sadd. Al-Ahli moved to eight points, sitting in fourth place, while Al-Sadd’s task grew harder after securing only their second point, leaving them in 15th place.

In Tashkent, Saudi champions Al-Nassr delivered a crushing 6-2 victory over Pakhtakor. Al-Nassr moved to six points, temporarily occupying fifth place, while Pakhtakor remained on two points in 14th. Al-Nassr imposed their will from the opening minutes, despite the absence of their star Cristiano Ronaldo, who rested. Goals came from Abdullah Al-Hamdan (15th minute), Portuguese João Félix (17th and 32nd minutes), Abdulilah Al-Amri (53rd minute), Abdulrahman Ghareeb (62nd minute), and Brazilian Angelo (79th minute). Pakhtakor’s goals were scored by Brazilian Flumarião (36th minute) and Dostonbek Khamdamov (75th minute).

Pakhtakor narrowed the scoreline again two minutes later when Khamdamov beat Spanish defender Iñigo Martínez and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper for their second goal (75th minute). Angelo concluded the scoring spree in the 79th minute, arriving unmarked at the far post to convert an Abdullah Al-Hamdan cross into an empty net.

In another match, UAE’s Al Wasl secured their first three points with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Iraqi guests Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya. Al Wasl’s goals were scored by Iranian Mehdi Taremi (6th minute), Mexican Nicolás Jiménez (17th minute penalty and 67th minute), and Portuguese Pedro Malheiro (45+1st minute). Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’s goals came from Harith Haitham (21st minute), Tunisian Haitham Guenichi (55th minute), and Mohamed Mourad (80th minute). Al Wasl, who had suffered two previous defeats and had their match against Al-Nassr postponed, moved off the bottom of the table to 11th place on three points, ahead of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya on goal difference, who dropped to 12th.

Additionally, Iran’s Tractor drew 2-2 with Uzbekistan’s Navbahor. Tractor moved to two points, sitting 13th, while Navbahor reached four points, occupying ninth place.