The Qatar champions registered their second win in the group with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup top scorer opening the scoring before Rami Rezaeian added the second with Igor Coronado pulling a goal back for Sharjah from the penalty spot.

While Ali stressed that getting the three points was important, he said Al Duhail's superior performance meant they should have scored more goals at the Education City Stadium.

Sharjah went into the game in pursuit of their first win in the AFC Champions League since 2004, having collected one point from their first two games.

Al Duhail, meanwhile, were looking to make amends having lost to Al Taawoun on Matchday Two to freeze at three points.

Persepolis went into the game chasing their first win in the 2020 edition, but for them to do so, they needed to overcome group leaders and hitherto unbeaten Al Taawoun.

Second half substitute Hattan Bahebri scored a late winner to steer the defending champions to a third consecutive victory as the Saudi Arabia club took spot in the group and edged closer to the knockout stage.

Captain Abdullah Al Mayouf said Al Hilal, missing six players who had tested positive for COVID-19, didn't start the match well but managed to take advantage of their numerical superiority to win.

Kodjo Laba opened the scoring for Al Ain early on. 2019 AFC Footballer of the Year Akram Afif equalised on 35 minutes, shortly before Bauyrzhan Islamkhan hammered home a contender for goal of the tournament to put Al Ain ahead before half time.

A debut goal from Santi Cazorla followed by a Baghdad Bounedjah tap-in put Al Sadd ahead before friendly fire from Boualem Khoukhi put the game back on equal terms. The result meant Al Sadd slipped down to second place on five points after Al Nassr managed a win against Sepahan FC, while Al Ain took their first point of the campaign yet remained bottom of the group, four points off second place.

A brace from Moroccan forward Abderazzaq Hamdallah steered the Saudi Arabia club to their second win as they stayed unbeaten to go top of the group.

Al Obaid said Al Nassr's ability to control the match helped them seal the hugely important win.

The Jeddah giants became the first team to reach the Round of 16 as Marko Marin notched a late goal to secure a second win.

Al Soma was satisfied with the win as Al Ahli were missing several players but admitted that Iraqi side Al Shorta surprised them at Khalifa International Stadium.