Today's Edition
A pair of first half penalties earned Al Ain a 2-1 win over Ahal at Ashgabat in Turkmenistan as Hernan Crespo's much-changed side finished the Asian Champions League group phase on a high from Group A.
However, there was heartbreak for Sharjah who needed just a point from Group B, but their hopes were dashed by Al Faisaly. The Jordanian hosts had nothing to gain, but they bagged a 2-1 consolation prize for themselves in Amman, leaving Cosmin Olaroiu's men stranded on eight points.
Qatar's Al Sadd were held to a 2-2 draw at the same time in Doha by leaders Nasaf of Uzbekistan. The point put them level with Sharjah, but the Qatari side went ahead on goal difference.
Meanwhile, Japan's defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds tumbled out of the group stage on Wednesday after losing 2-1 to Hanoi in their final game.
The three-time champions needed to win to stand any chance of progressing but they fell behind early in the second half to their already eliminated rivals in Vietnam.
Bryan Linssen equalised in the 65th minute but Pham Tuan Hai slotted the winner from the penalty spot three minutes from time to quash any hopes.
The result leaves Urawa, who beat Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal in May to win last season's title, with no chance of playing in continental competition next term.
They missed out on qualification through the domestic J-League on Sunday when Sanfrecce Hiroshima pipped them to third place with a 96th-minute goal on the final day.
In Amman, Souifane Rahimi put the former champions Al Ain ahead from the spot in the 13th minute before another penalty from Omer Atzili gave them a two-goal cushion in the 32nd minute. Elman Tagayew's strike three minutes later reduced the margin, but that was all the leash cut by Al Ain.
Having already secured their spot in the last 16 as group winners, Al Ain finished on 15 points from their six games while Ahal remain rooted to the bottom of the group.
