Also this week, AGMK and Nasaf secure key wins in Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan’s football authorities set return dates for the country’s League and Cup competitions.

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Pakhtakor’s qualification to the Round of 16 was confirmed after Al Hilal were deemed to have withdrawn from the competition after failing to name the required 13 players for their match against Shabab Al Ahli.

The decision meant all matches played by Al Hilal are considered null and void according to Article 6 of the AFC Champions League regulations and therefore Pakhtakor and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai have progressed to the Round of 16 from Group B.

Head coach Majid Namjoo-Motlagh’s men went into the game with the knowledge that only a two-goal margin win would secure their place in the Round of 16 alongside Al Ahli and ahead of Al Shorta and from the start they made their intentions clear.

One point will be enough for Al Duhail to reach the Round of 16, while Al Taawoun’s fate is out of their hands, as they would require the three points in addition to a draw in the other Wednesday game between Sharjah and Persepolis.

After a bright start to the competition with back-to-back wins, Al Taawoun have been off-form since the restart, losing all three subsequent matches. The arrival of French coach Patrice Carteron ahead of Matchday Five did not change things as they suffered a 6-0 defeat to Sharjah.

Both teams have seven points going into their last game of the group stage, where a win for either team means a place at the next stage.

A superior goal-difference means a draw would favour Sharjah, but it could also mean elimination for both sides should Al Taawoun defeat Al Duhail in the other Thursday game.

Sharjah have been in red hot form, scoring 10 goals in their last two games to brush aside Al Duhail 4-2 and Al Taawoun 6-0, but coach Abdulaziz Al Anbari is adamant his side should not get carried away with those results ahead of the decisive Persepolis match.

Sepahan’s only win in the competition came in the opening game of the tournament with a 4-0 thumping of Al Ain, but early optimism quickly petered out with a draw and three losses following, meaning the Iranians’ hopes had evaporated by the end of Matchday Five.

Al Nassr had cruised through the group stage, beating Sepahan FC twice and drawing against Al Sadd SC twice, while their previous match against Al Ain on Matchday Two was decided by goals from Mukhtar Ali and current top scorer Abderazzaq Hamdallah.

A win for coach Rui Vitoria’s men would secure the top spot, but a draw could also be enough for Al Nassr to snatch the top spot, provided Al Sadd fail to defeat Sepahan in the other Group D fixture on Thursday.