AFC - Two-time winners Al Ittihad joined Al Ain in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after goals by Abdulfattah Asiri and Mukhtar Fallatah gave the Saudi club a 2-0 win over 10-man Iranian side Tractorsazi Tabriz on Tuesday.

Needing a victory at King Abdulaziz Sport City to ensure their passage to the knockout stage, Al Ittihad took the lead with a superb long-range strike by Asiri, who then set Fallatah’s clinching goal in the second half to seal the three points.

With the win, Al Ittihad moved up to nine points, one behind group leaders Al Ain, who they will meet next week in the United Arab Emirates to decide top spot in Group C.

Tractorsazi who had defender Milad Fakhroddiini sent off in the first half, remained on five points as they were eliminated at the group stage for the second year in a row and they host Qatari side Lekhwiya next week with little more than pride at stake.

Trailing their opponents by a point at the start of game, the onus was on the visitors to chase a result and they had the better of the early exchanges before the home side took the lead with a stunning finish by Asiri in the 17th minute.

The 20-year-old received the ball from Leandro Bonfim on the right flank and he accelerated towards the box before he unleashed a venomous low drive from 25 metres that goalkeeper Hamed Lak could only watch as it bulged his net.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors shortly after that when Fakhroddiini, who had already been booked in the 21st minute, received his second yellow card in four minutes and was sent off.

Bonfim should have made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute when he received the ball in space just outside the box and curled his effort just over the crossbar.

But the second goal would arrive on the hour mark. A great through ball sent Asiri clear on the right side of the Lekhwiya box and he drew Lak off his line before he squared it for Mukhtar Fallatah to fire into the unguarded net.

Al Ittihad could have added another goal to their tally when they were awarded a penalty in the 66th minute after Falattah had been hauled down in the box by Lak.
Fahad Al Muwallad put the ball just beyond the reach of Lak but it struck the base of the left goalpost and ricocheted out to safety.