Al Duhail fans breathed a sigh of relief as the final whistle at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Tashkent confirmed a hard-fought win for their side. Two goals from Youssef El Arabi had brought them from the brink of a first defeat in the competition to seal their passage into the 2018 AFC Champions League knockout stage with two matches to spare.

The result also meant Djamel Belmadi's men can join an elite group of clubs to win all six AFC Champions League group stage matches in a season, should they achieve victories against Zobahan and Al Wahda in April.

Since moving to Shanghai SIPG in 2016, Brazilian superstar Hulk has become one of the most dangerous and threatening strikers on the continent, with 10 goals in 17 AFC Champions League appearances for the Chinese side.

But as many followers of Asian football will be well aware, this isn’t the first time Hulk has played club football in Asia.

It’s fair to say Buriram would now be considered experienced continental campaigners, with 2018 marking their sixth appearance in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.

Along the way they’ve had some memorable moments, like in 2013 when they not only made it out of their group, but then defeated Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor in the Round of 16 to make it through to the quarter-finals, the best performance by a Thai side since BEC Tero Sasana made the final in 2003.

Sydney FC defeated Perth Glory 3-2 to open an 11-point lead over their nearest rivals, the Newcastle Jets, who only have three matches remaining in the regular season. 

In claiming the A-League Premiership, Sydney FC have also guaranteed their place in the 2019 AFC Champions League.

Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop on Friday congratulated the players, coaching staff and management of Sydney FC for their outstanding achievement.

“Sydney FC have once again shown that they are the dominant team of the A-League,” said Gallop.

“To be the first club to win back-to-back A-League Premierships is an historic achievement.

After spurning a number of opportunities early on, Uzbekistan international Sardor Rashidov gave Lokomotiv the lead in the 35th minute, slotting home Shukhrat Mukhammadiev's cutback to score his second goal of the tournament.

The hosts went on to end the half with a 1-0 lead and could have been further ahead had it not been for the heroics of Al Duhail keeper Amine Lecomte.

In the second half, Al Duhail went on the offensive in search of an equaliser but were reduced to just a single shot on target in the face of a defiant defensive display from Lokomotiv.

However, just as the Central Asians thought they had the three points in the bag, Al Duhail were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute after Almoez Ali was felled in the box by Salim Mustafoev. El Arabi stepped up and duly dispatched the spot-kick to net his fifth goal of the campaign.

And there was still time for a dramatic conclusion as in the fourth minute of stoppage time, El Arabi showed great composure to deceive his marker and finish past Ignatiy Nesterov to complete his side's comeback in dramatic fashion.

The result means that Al Duhail have ensured a spot in the Round of 16 after a fourth successive win in Group B. Both teams have away fixtures coming up on Matchday Five, with Al Duhail facing Zobahan in Isfahan while Lokomotiv travel to Abu Dhabi to take on Al Wahda.

As the competition takes a three-week break, join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the week in numbers.

As ever in Tehran, the competition sparked fever pitch as fans of the Islamic Republic of Iran giants turned up in the tens of thousands to witness the 1-1 draw between two-time continental champions Esteghlal and inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain.

Mame Baba Thiam put the hosts a goal up from the spot just before half-time before Tsukasa Shiotani levelled with 12 minutes to play as Esteghlal remained top of the standings, two points ahead of third-place Al Ain who have drawn four from four.