Sharjah, Shabab Al Ahli face off in ACL; Al Sadd, Al Nassr enter last 8

Sharjah FC will consider themselves favourites when they welcome UAE rivals Shabab Al Ahli for the return leg of their AFC Champions League Two 2024/25 quarter-final on Wednesday.

Caio Lucas’ strike ensured Sharjah walked away from the first leg on level terms and will -- with home ground advantage -- look to secure a semi-final spot.

Sharjah would have been satisfied with the draw as they held their own despite Shabab Al Ahli having home ground advantage, outshooting their rivals nine to eight with three on target.

Denying their local rivals a place in the semi-finals will be a perfect boost for Sharjah, who trail leaders Shabab Al Ahli by seven points in the UAE Pro League. Shabab will not be lacking confidence despite having to contend with Sharjah’s partisan fans.

Especially crucial to their hopes will be Sardar Azmoun, with the Islamic Republic of Iran star in fine form – having netted five times in his last three matches to lead the AFC Champions League Two scoring chart with nine goals.

Meanwhile, Akram Afif produced a virtuoso performance to spark Al Sadd SC to a 3-1 win over Al Wasl FC as the Qatari side advanced to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 with a 4-2 aggregate victory on Monday.

Afif made one and scored a stunner to inspire the Qatari side to a comeback victory as they stayed in the hunt for a third Asian title.

Just like a week ago, Al Wasl seized the early initiative and went ahead in the 10th minute when Alexis Perez’ cross was met with a sweet first-time finish by Fabio de Lima into the bottom corner that gave Meshaal Barsham in Al Sadd’s goal no chance.

The goal stunned Al Sadd into action with captain Afif leading by example, producing a long-range effort that was pushed away by Khaled Al Senani in the 24th minute before notching his second assist in consecutive matches.

Two-time AFC Player of the Year Afif drove into the box from the left in the 27th minute before cutting back for Moustafa Mashal to sweep home to draw Al Sadd level.

Al Sadd pushed on and took the lead three minutes later after Youcef Atal jinked his way into the box with his attempted cross deflecting off Jung Seung-hyun to wrong-foot Al Senani and end up in the back of the net.

With confidence soaring, Al Sadd increased their lead in the 37th minute when Afif played a short free-kick to Claudinho, received the pass back and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Al Wasl thought they had pulled one back in the 58th minute when Joao Pedro climbed highest to nod towards goal but Barsham clawed the ball away.

A trio of substitutions just after the hour mark from Al Wasl saw Jonatas Santos, Takashi Uchino and Caio Canedo entering the fray but apart from one weak Canedo overhead attempt, the Emirati side showed little signs of getting back into the game as Al Sadd booked their place in the last eight.

Elsewhere, Jhon Duran struck twice and Cristiano Ronaldo once as Al Nassr Club defeated Esteghlal FC 3-0 in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 Round of 16 tie on Monday.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr - seeking to win the title for the first time - advanced 3-0 on aggregate and will know their quarter-final opponents in Monday’s draw.

Ronaldo returned to the starting lineup after having missed last week’s goalless first leg draw in Tehran with Duran and Sadio Mane providing support from the flanks.

But it was Esteghlal who had the first shot on target in the second minute when Mehran Ahmadi cut into the box from the right, but his tame effort was comfortably gathered by Al Nassr keeper Bento.

Al Nassr gradually took control, repeatedly targeting Ronaldo with crosses into the box. The breakthrough came in the ninth minute when Duran capitalised on Seyed Hosseini’s careless pass, calmly lobbing the ball over Esteghlal’s keeper.