Asian player of the year Omar Abdulrahman scored a brilliant double as Al Ain thrashed Esteghlal 6-1 to storm into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.
The brace by “Amoory” — matched by two sublime strikes from Brazil’s Caio — overturned last week’s 1-0 defeat and powered last year’s runners-up to a 6-2 aggregate victory.
Elsewhere, in an all-Al Ahli derby, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli beat their UAE namesakes 3-1 for a 4-2 aggregate win in Dubai.
Al Ain needed goals against Iran’s Esteghlal and Caio duly obliged in the 27th and 33rd minutes when he smashed home a volley and then coolly chipped the goalkeeper for his second.
Abdulrahman’s first goal, shortly after half-time, was all endeavour and technique as he chased a loose ball beyond the far post and, meeting it at full stretch, turned it in from a tight angle.
Lee Myeong-Ju belted Al Ain’s fourth before Abdulrahman charged at a backtracking defence and placed his shot past beseiged Esteghlal ‘keeper Mehdi Rahmati.
Saudi striker Nasser Al Shamrani got Al Ain’s sixth on the break before Esteghlal bagged a late consolation when Kevah Rezaei’s free kick trickled into the goal.
In Dubai, an Al Ahli side was always going to be the winner — and loser — in an unusual clash between two teams with the same name.
Saudi’s Al Ahli also needed to score after last week’s 1-1 draw at home, and they led after 18 minutes through Taiseer Al Jassam’s sharp back-post finish from a corner.
Hussain Al Mogahwi hammered the visitors’ second into the top corner six minutes later, and the hosts’ hopes further receded when top-scorer Makhete Diop was sent off near the hour-mark.
Saad Abdulameer grabbed the Saudi side’s third from the spot with 18 minutes left, meaning Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan’s injury-time penalty was academic.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.