Al Wahda's late surge seals Elite Asian knockout berth with a 3-1 win over Al Sadd

Match Overview

Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates sealed their passage to the AFC Elite Champions League knockout rounds by overturning a first-half deficit against host Al Sadd of Qatar, finishing 3-1 at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi during the competition's fifth round.

Al Sadd opened the scoring when Claudio converted from a stoppage-time penalty at the end of the first half, a moment that briefly shifted momentum in favor of the visitors.

Wahda answered with a quick-fire response, scoring three goals through Dušan Tadich in the 55th and 66th minutes and Kai Kanido in the 87th, turning the game around and leaving the Qataris chasing the clock.

After five rounds, Wahda temporarily led the West Zone on 13 points from five matches, while Al Hilal Saudi Arabia sat on 12 from four, and Tractor Iranian on 11, illustrating a tight fight for advancement in the group.

Other results left a mosaic of contenders in the mix, with Al Ahli Saudi and Shabab Al-Ahli UAE both on 10 points, Duhail on 7, Sharjah on 7, and even more parity across the standings as the schedule rolled on.

Early tempo

The opening exchanges were lively, with both teams trading chances. Claudio fired a shot from inside the box just wide for Al Sadd in the fourth minute, while Wahda’s Jadsun Mimas replied from outside the area, narrowly missing the far post in the sixth.

Roberto Ferinimo tested the goalkeeper from inside the box in the 13th minute, and Guilherme Torres sent a volley over the bar for the Sadd in the 34th, as the visitors pressed to extend their tenuous lead.

Wahda’s attack grew more menacing as the half progressed, with Mohammed Al Gharbani firing a near-miss from close range in the 36th, followed by a long-range attempt from Torres that went just off target in the 40th.

Late in the half, Al Sadd earned a late penalty and Claudio converted confidently in the 45th+3 minute, a goal that looked to have decided the first half until Wahda struck back after the break.

Turning the tide

With the interval behind them, Wahda pushed higher up the pitch. Abdulrahman Abdul Ali crossed from the right and Omar Al Kaabi had a chance saved, while Mohammed Al Shamsi tested the keeper in the 54th, as Wahda laid siege to the Sadd goal.

Moments later, Wahda’s pressure paid dividends when Abdulrahman’s ball into the box found Tadich, who finished clinically in the 55th to level matters. Tadich added a second in the 66th with a composed finish after a smart move, giving Wahda the lead they had demanded all along.

Al Sadd tried to salvage a result late on, but Tadich’s second completed the trio of goals and sealed the comeback in the 87th minute, leaving the visitors with little time to respond.

Throughout the night, Wahda’s defense held firm and allowed the attackers to exploit quick transitions, a formula that proved decisive as the game wore on.

Post-match, Wahda’s campaign continued to look bright, having defeated Al Etihad in the opening round, drawn with Tractor in the second, beaten Duhail in the third, and beating Nasaf in the fourth—progressing in a campaign poised for the knockout rounds.

Al Sadd’s evening ended with a bittersweet note, as their aggregate pressure had not produced the decisive second away goal that would have opened the door to a comeback, and now they face a tough path ahead in the West Zone schedule.

Moving forward, Round Six in the West Zone is scheduled for December 22-23, with matches featuring Sharjah vs. Al Hilal, Tractor vs. Duhail, Gharafa vs. Wahda, and others across a packed landscape as teams vie for a top-eight finish to reach the Round of 16 in March 2026; quarterfinals and beyond are set for a later centralized sprint in Saudi Arabia in April 2026.

Each side will play eight matches in the group stage, with the top eight in each zone advancing; the knockout rounds begin in March 2026, with the tournament culminating in a centralized event in Saudi Arabia in April 2026.