Al Ittihad Thrash Al-Gharafa 7-0, Secure AFC Champions League Knockout Spot
Al Ittihad secured their place in the AFC Champions League knockout rounds with a 7-0 thrashing of Al-Gharafa, led by Houssem Aouar's hat-trick.
“We knew we had to win tonight. Tractor is in the top three in the Champions League...”
Al Ittihad secured their spot in the AFC Champions League knockout rounds with a resounding 7-0 victory over Qatar's Al-Gharafa. Houssem Aouar led the charge with a hat-trick, while Youssef En-Nesyri and Roger Fernandes also got on the scoresheet. This win guarantees Sergio Conceicao's team a place in the next phase of the competition.
The match was one-sided, with Al Ittihad dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Aouar's hat-trick, including goals in the 20th, 58th, and 79th minutes, cemented Al Ittihad's victory. Al-Sadd also had a successful night, beating Tractor FC 2-0, with Rafa Mujica and Roberto Firmino scoring the goals.
Youssef En-Nesyri, the new signing, got Al-Ittihad off to a flying start, scoring in the third minute after capitalizing on Muhannad Al-Shanqiti's low center. Aouar doubled the lead in the 20th minute with a precision shot, and Roger Fernandes sealed the deal with a third goal in the 49th minute.
The match seems to be shaping up nicely for Al-Ittihad, with En-Nesyri making an instant impact.
Al-Ittihad kept the momentum going, with Danilo Pereira heading in a corner and Aouar netting his second of the night. Fernandes added the sixth, and Aouar completed his hat-trick 11 minutes from time.
The win boosts Al-Ittihad to 12 points, moving them up to fifth in the standings. They're four points clear of ninth-placed Sharjah FC with one round to go.
Al-Sadd scored their first goal in the 61st minute when Akram Afif headed the ball to Rafa Mujica, who swept it in from seven yards out. This put them ahead against already-qualified Tractor.
Congratulations to our fans 👏#Alittihad_algharafa#ACLElite pic.twitter.com/bx5QduTBYp
— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) February 10, 2026
The Qatari club sealed their win in the 89th minute as Roberto Firmino, last season's Al Ahli title winner, scored from close range after Claudinho's perfect pass from the left. This victory boosts Al-Sadd's hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Roberto Firmino said, “We knew we had to win tonight. Tractor is in the top three in the Champions League, and it was a big game and a big win.” Al-Sadd's win moves them up to eighth, securing a spot in the knockout rounds.
The top eight teams in East and West Asia progress to the last 16, played home-and-away. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will be held in Saudi Arabia in April.
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