Late Ounas penalty secures Al-Sadd's progress to last 16 of Asian Champions League

Adam Ounas scored a dramatic injury-time penalty to secure a 2-1 victory for Al-Sadd over Saudi Pro League's Al-Nassr on Monday, propelling the Qatari team into the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League Elite.

This win places Al-Sadd alongside Saudi teams Al-Nassr, who were without Cristiano Ronaldo for the loss in Riyadh, Al-Hilal, and Al-Ahli in the last 16 of the revamped continental tournament.

Al-Ahli required two penalties from Ivan Toney to draw 2-2 with Esteghlal, ending their perfect home record. Meanwhile, Persepolis triumphed over Al-Shorta 2-1, and Al-Wasl settled for a 1-1 draw with Al-Rayyan.
Al-Ahli's draw marked the first time in the competition that the Jeddah-based club dropped points, after five consecutive wins had already ensured their place in the last 16.

Managed by Matthias Jaissle, Al-Ahli have 16 points from six games, maintaining a three-point lead over Al-Hilal, who will play Qatar's Al-Gharafa on Tuesday.
The top eight teams from both the western and eastern league tables advance to the round of 16, scheduled for March.
With Al-Sadd's late win, Felix Sanchez's team secured one of the western division's spots in the knockout rounds.

Akram Afif, the reigning Asian Player of the Year, opened the scoring for Al-Sadd in the 53rd minute after a solo run from the halfway line ended with a composed finish past goalkeeper Bento.
Al-Sadd's Romain Saiss accidentally turned Wesley’s cross from the left into his own net in the 80th minute. However, Ounas sealed the win in injury time after Afif was fouled in the box.
Al-Ahli, on the other hand, had to rally twice. They first fell behind three minutes before halftime when Rafael Silva volleyed past Edouardo Mendy for Esteghlal. Toney equalized from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Didier Ndong fouled Fahad Al-Rashidi.


Esteghlal regained the lead when Mohammad Hossein Eslami’s shot bounced over Mendy early in the second half.
Eslami’s red card with nine minutes left increased pressure on Esteghlal, and Toney’s second penalty salvaged a point for Al-Ahli just before the final whistle.

In Doha, Oston Urunov and a 103rd-minute penalty from Giorgi Gvelesiani gave Persepolis their first win in the tournament against Al-Shorta, who had taken an early lead through Mohannad Ali's well-placed lob in the 19th minute.
Meanwhile, Caio Canedo's goal for UAE's Al-Wasl in the 77th minute was equalized by an own goal from Salem Al-Azizi eight minutes later, allowing Qatar's Al-Rayyan to claim a point in their clash in Dubai.