Ali Asad and Akram Afif scored inside the opening 15 minutes and Omar Al Somah pulled one back for Al Ahli in the second half in Doha as the hosts sealed the three points to book their place in the knock-out stage with a game to spare.

With qualification confirmed, the 2011 AFC Champions League winners can now take a breather following a busy season in which they lifted the Qatar Stars League title for the first time in six years and reached the Emir Cup semi-final just four days ahead of their win over Al Ahli.

The hosts showed their attacking intent from the start, creating their first big chance inside 60 seconds of kick-off. Akram Afif and Xavi exchanged passes down the right and the Spanish midfielder squared the ball for Baghdad Bounedjah who took it first time, but Al Ahli goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais showed quick reflexes to catch the ball.

Jesualdo Ferreira’s side looked to apply high press to regain possession deep into the opposition half. Afif was successful in doing so in the ninth minute, when he dispossessed Saeed Al Muwallad then supplied a perfectly weighted diagonal pass to Ali Asad who controlled then hit on the half-volley with his left past Al Owais for Al Sadd’s first of the night.

The 2018 finalists came into the match needing a victory to boost their hopes of reaching the Round of 16, instead Persepolis were eliminated from the Continental tournament.

Esteghlal came into the Matchday Five fixture in the knowledge that only a win could keep their qualification hopes alive, and they started brightly, coming within inches of opening the scoring in the 12th minute.

South African midfielder Ayanda Patosi beat Al Duhail goalkeeper Amine Lecomte with a curled free-kick from 30 yards out. Esteghlal were, however, denied the opener as Patosi’s ball struck the upright.

Al Duhail responded from a similar set-piece through Bassam Al Rawi, but the Qatari international’s strike passed narrowly wide of the post.

Both sides had learnt their fate after a 1-1 draw in the other Monday fixture meant Al Hilal and Al Duhail confirmed their places in the Round of 16 while Al Ain would join Esteghlal in being eliminated at the group stage regardless of remaining results.

Al Rayyan had suffered their joint-heaviest AFC Champions League defeat in the reverse fixture, falling to a 5-1 humbling by Al Ittihad in Jeddah on Matchday One. They needed a win on home soil to stand a chance of grabbing one of the two Round-of-16 tickets.

The hosts threatened through Abdulaziz Al Hasia whose seventh-minute touch of Mohammed Ala Eldin’s cross was not strong enough to direct it goalward. Al Ittihad responded a few minutes later as Nasir Al Shamrani stabbed Abdullah Al Amar’s cross wide off target.

Rui Vitoria opted to rest striker Abdelrazak Hamdallah ahead of a crucial clash with Al Hazm in the domestic league on Saturday, but his side were dominant from start to finish and stormed to victory at King Fahd International Stadium.

Al Wasl goalkeeper Sultan Al Mantheri was made to work hard, making two important saves to deny Fahad bin Jumayah inside the first 20 minutes.