(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Chinthana Wasala / The Peninsula
Doha: Dutch star Wesley Sneijder earned Al Gharafa the perfect start as Qatar giants stormed into the group stage of the AFC Champions League (ACL) with a convincing 2-1 win against Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor Tashkent yesterday.
Al Gharafa Stadium yesterday, the team's newest member, Sneijder converted a penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner in the 21st minute to give them the much needed lead.
Diogo Amado, assisted by Mehdi Taremi, doubled the lead just seven minutes later with a brilliant right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner as the home team took a comfortable 2-0 lead before going into half time break.
Both teams failed to find the back of the net by the 90-minute mark, buy Tashkent tried to fight back strongly in the final minutes of the game.
Eventually, Jasurbek Khakimov beat the Al Gharafa goalkeeper in the third minute of injury time. Khakimov's left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Despite their efforts, Shneijder's Al Gharafa made it to the Group Stage and will join UAE's Al Jazira, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli and Iran's Tractorsasi.
Elsewhere, Nahrain's Al Malkiya put in a spirited performance at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium to defeat Al Ain, UAE 2-0.
Hashim Isa's chip was denied by goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, and a header from Isa Al Bari missed the net.
Al Ain took the lead eight minutes after the break through Swedish striker Markus Berg.
After a quick break from the Egyptian winger Hussein El Shahat. The new winter signing squared for Berg who finished with his left.
Only eight minutes later, Al Ain sealed the win when Bandar Al Ahbabi crossed for Caio who pulled a powerful header to double his side's lead.
Al Ain join 2017 AFC Champions League runners-up, Saudia Arabia's Al Hilal, Iranian side Esteghlal and Qatar's Al Rayyan in Group D of the competition.
In Fuladshahr, Iran, hosts Zob Ahan squeezed through to the group stage with a 3-1 victory over Indian champions Aizawl FC.
In Shanghai, China, Yu Hai scored the only goal of the game as Shanghai SIPG secured their third successive appearance in the AFC Champions League following a 1-0 victory over Thailand's Chiangrai United.
Two headed goals either side of the half-time break laid the foundation for an emphatic 5-1 victory for Nasaf Qarshi over Al Faisaly as the Uzbek side booked their place in the group stage.
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