ACL MD5 – Group A: Al Sadd 1-0 Foolad Khouzestan

AFC – DOHA, Qatar’s Al Sadd joined Al Hilal in advancing to the Round of 16 from Group C of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday when a goal from former Guangzhou Evergrande striker Muriqui was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Iranian side Foolad Khouzestan.

The Brazilian scored three minutes from the end of the first half to secure all three points for the 2011 champions, who join the Saudi Arabian side on 10 points from their first five games of the group stage.

The two teams meet on Matchday Six in Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium to determine who will win Group C, while Foolad remain rooted to the bottom of the standings with three points. Lokomotiv Tashkent are in third place on four.

Al Sadd, who finished as runners-up in the Qatar Stars League behind Lekhwiya this season, controlled proceedings in the first half but despite their dominance the Qataris were unable to breach the visiting defence until the 42nd minute.

Their first chance of note provided Al Sadd with the opening goal of the game, and it was started and finished by the man who won the Most Valuable Player award when he claimed the AFC Champions League title with Guangzhou in 2013.

Muriqui’s deft one-two with Hasan Al Haydos unlocked the Foolad backline and the Brazilian, who scored 13 times as Evergrande won the title, calmly slotted the ball past Alireza Salimi to give Al Sadd the lead.

The goal roused Foolad into action in the second 45 minutes and, just before the hour mark Ahmad Al Nameh was just off target with a well-taken free kick from 25 yards out.

Foolad went closer still in the 70th minute, only for Mohasen Mosalman’s free kick from the left to come back off the upright, denying the Iranians a goal and ensuring Al Sadd picked up all three points and progressed to the Round of 16.