Soufiane Bouftini scored the winner with a second half header as the champions of the United Arab Emirates kicked off their campaign in style.
Al Wasl gave Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor a scare in the third minute, nearly taking the lead off a corner after Adama Diallo beat keeper Vladimir Nazarov only to be denied by the tip of the woodwork before Nazarov collected the rebound.
Diallo was presented with another opportunity two minutes later but his header off a well-placed cross from Siaka Sidibe sailed over the bar.
Pakhtakor responded a minute later after Diyor Holmatov sent Makhmudjon Makhamadjonov free inside the box but the defender pulled his grounded effort wide.
Both sides continued to toil in front of goal as the tie remained goalless heading into the break.
Al Wasl came close to scoring in the 47th minute with Ali Saleh seeing his attempt from inside the six-yard-box foiled before the forward skied his effort over the bar moments later.
Saleh threatened again in the 64th minute when he redirected Nicolas Gimenez’s cross straight into the arms of Nazarov who was, however, finally beaten a minute later off a corner.
The Emirati side broke the deadlock after Bouftini rose highest to nod home Gimenez’s set-piece.
Pakhtakor sent on Umar Adhamzoda and Ibrokhim Ibragimov in an attempt to find the equaliser and came close in the 76th minute with Dragan Ceran forcing a save from Khaled Al Senani but Al Wasl were not to be denied victory.
