Doha: Akram Afif produced a virtuoso performance to spark Qatar’s Al Sadd SC to a 3-1 win over UAE’s 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.

According to Qatar News Agency, 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’s 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.