UAE’s Sharjah will take on Al Wehdat of Jordan next while Tajikistan’s Istiklol will meet Sepahan of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Both sides toiled in front of goal with in the early minutes with Caio Lucas sending his effort from inside the box wide, while Sharjah’s Maro Katinic saw his effort blocked
Sharjah looked more dangerous in possession with Darko Nejasmic threatening from distance just after the half-hour mark before Nejasmic squandered another long-range effort in the 35th minute.
Istiklol had a rare chance go to waste in the 37th minute after Ehson Panjshanbe floated the ball into the area following a set-piece situation, only for Oleksiy Larin to pull his effort over the bar.
Luanzinho then came close to putting Sharjah in front a minute later after Paco Alcacer had set him up nicely but the Brazilian could not keep his shot on target.
Istiklol had a great opportunity in the first minute of added time after Ehson Panjshanbe’s square pass found Shervoni Mabatshoev unmarked inside the box, but the forward’s grounded attempt was saved by Khaled Tawhid.
Sharjah continued to press in the second half but were left frustrated with Luanzinho seeing his effort saved in the 53rd minute before Muhriddin Hasanov kept out attempts by Caio Lucas, Shaheen Abdalla and Alcacer.
The Emirati side, however, nicked the winner in the 72nd minute after Luanzinho supplied a cross to Ben Arbi who finished with aplomb from inside the box.
