Al-Sadd advance despite heavy defeat to Al-Ittihad in Doha

Roberto Mancini’s Al-Sadd endured a 4-1 defeat against Saudi Pro League holders Al-Ittihad in their Asian Champions League Elite clash in Doha on Tuesday, yet still progressed to the round of 16.

The Qatari side’s passage was confirmed after fellow domestic club Al-Gharafa fell 2-0 to Iran’s Tractor FC. That outcome ensured Al-Sadd held on to eighth position in the western league phase table, securing the final qualifying berth for the knockout stage.

Mancini’s team had to equal or surpass Al-Gharafa’s result but found themselves under immediate pressure. Al-Ittihad struck twice within the opening 18 minutes through Houssem Aouar and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Pedro Miguel then turned the ball into his own net in the 33rd minute, deepening the hosts’ difficulties before the break.

Second-half response proves insufficient

Rafa Mujica pulled one back for Al-Sadd seven minutes before halftime, offering a brief spark of encouragement for the home supporters.

“Today was a very difficult game,” said Mujica. “The first 20, 25 minutes were very bad for us. We conceded everything.

“But we only have to think about the next game. We are qualified. We will see in the next game.”

Any hopes of a revival were effectively ended in the 63rd minute when Stephan Keller finished from close range to restore Al-Ittihad’s three-goal advantage, sealing a second successive convincing win for the Saudi club.

Knockout ties confirmed as Al-Gharafa exit

Al-Sadd will now meet group leaders Al-Hilal over two legs in early March in the next phase of the competition. Fourth-placed Al-Ittihad are set to take on Al-Wahda of the United Arab Emirates.

Defending champions Al-Ahli, also from Saudi Arabia, have been drawn against Qatar’s Al-Duhail, while Tractor will face Shabab Al-Ahli from the UAE.

Meanwhile, Al-Gharafa’s elimination was confirmed when Mehdi Hashemnejad scored in the 61st minute after a defensive lapse, before Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh’s deflected strike into the top corner with nine minutes remaining sealed their fate and ended Pedro Martins’ side’s campaign.