All goals, drama & comebacks： The fight for the quarters ｜ Highlight Show – R16 2nd Leg ｜ ACL Elite

With the dust settled from each of the first leg ties, the remaining teams from the West knew exactly what kind of challenge awaited them if they were to progress beyond the round of 16 and reach the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite. After a tense first leg stalemate, there was no clear picture as to whether Alnasser or Esteglau would be on their way through, and it was the same story for Al-Wassal and Al-Sad following their 1-1 draw. Brazilian forward Flamarion led Pactecor to pull off a first leg shock as they edged 1-0 ahead against Saudi giants Al-Hilal, and they'd have to try and hold on to that slender lead away from home, whereas Firas Al-Buraikan's late goal for Al-Akhli Saudi had helped them to earn a healthy-looking 3-1 cushion against Al-Raiyan, and they had the added bonus of a home tie to come. Here's how the ties unfolded in the second leg meetings. It's goalless coming into the second leg as Alnasser hosts Esteglau in the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16. Alnasser passed up some clear-cut opportunities in the first leg, but at least for this home match, they have Cristiano Ronaldo back after he missed that game. It's no wins in three, though, in all competitions for the Saudi side. Esteglau, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five in this competition, but they will have to be more attack-minded today compared to the reverse mixture. Aymeric Laporte scored the winner for Alnasser between these two in the group stage in October, but misses out on this match. His side, though, have started strongly anyway. Esteglau keeper Hosseini kept his side in the match last week, but he's given the ball straight to Duran here, and he tries the chip there, and that's 1-0 already to Alnasser in the ninth minute. A massive mistake from Hosseini, and he just can't get back to stop the shot in the end from Duran. It's his first in the AFC Champions League elite and a dream start for the home side. And they continue to push forward as Ronaldo stands over a free kick here. He sends it towards the far stick, and that's an excellent stop from Hosseini. Into the 25th minute, Alnasser are well on top. As Mane bursts into the box, he goes down, and no hesitation from the referee. It is a penalty. Nick Nafs here coming in on the Senegal forward, and it's a clear penalty. Ronaldo steps up here. Oh, and he clips it down the middle for 2-0 to Alnasser, as Cristiano Ronaldo's side now have control of the tie. Into the 34th minute as a free kick is whipped in here, and Ahmad Al-Fatihli rises so high, but he places his header just wide. Right at the end of the first half, Mehran Ahmadi for Estegral is shown a second yellow card, and he's off. As at halftime, it's 2-0 to Alnasser, and a man to the goods. They're seemingly cruising to the quarterfinals, but there's no let-up from them as they look to get a statement win here. 48th minute and a real scramble. It's Duran, Yaya and Duran again. Spectacular action as Alnasser failed to score. Coming to the hour mark, as it's complete domination from the home side. A shooting chance for Cristiano Ronaldo, and it's another stop from Hossein Hosseini. But Cristiano Ronaldo is getting closer to scoring from open play. Just a couple of minutes later, Alnasser again charging forward. As Mane swings this one over, and the header from close range from Yaya is saved. Hosseini has been a very busy man again tonight. Coming towards the end of the match now, as there's another break involving Cristiano Ronaldo. As it's patient play, and that's a fantastic ball for Duran, and what a finish that is for 3-0. His second of the game and Alnasser's third. The Colombian doing so well there to get his second as a full time. It's 3-0 to Alnasser, who could have scored many more in the second half against the 10 men of Esteglal. CR7 is into the quarterfinal and a step closer to lifting the big trophy. Welcome, Sadio. Congratulations. Three goals, a good level today. Yeah, well, I think we played well today. We played many chances and we scored three goals for... I think we get a reward of our reward. We press well together, we push them, make mistakes, and from that we scored three goals. So we have clean sheets, so I think you cannot expect more than this. What do you think about the next round, all the rounds in Saudi Arabia? Yeah, for sure. I think it will be difficult for me to talk about the next round because I don't know what's going to happen. But for sure, what I know, we will do everything possible to step up and to try to get our target. For sure, I think you know our target. But we're going to take game by game and try to reach our final goal. What do you promise Alnasser fans? The promise I have to tell them is we will give everything until our last breath. So that is my promise I give to them as a team. And we need their support, so together I think we can make something historical. Acre-Mafif captains this side and is joined at attack by Spain's Rafa Mojica. No team from the UAE has won away against Al-Sad in the last nine attempts. The attacking talents of captain Ali Salah, Fabio Lima, Joao Pebreu, and Nicolas Jimenez from midfield will try and change that fact. It's Al-Basel with the pride to start the ball into the centre, forces the first save. Meshal Basham tipping away, Jimenez's cross comes shot. Well, the visitors are back at it here. They've looked really sharp in the opening stages. The first-time ball in and Fabio Lima's there to meet it. He sweeps it in. It's dazzling from Al-Basel. The ball from Alexis was brilliant. The timing of the run from Fabio Lima was immaculate and the finish wasn't bad either. The team from the UAE strike first. Al-Sad yet to really get going. Acre-Mafif coming in on the inside, shot from the left foot. Some trouble. Khalid, too much on the home side. They're starting to show some signs of life. They come again in the 26th minute. Acre-Mafif, good step-overs there. Driving forwards, cuts it back, and this will be met by Mustapha who turns it in. And just like that, the home side are level. Al-Basel haven't been able to keep a clean sheet in their last eight Champions League elite matches. It's the 14th goal that they've conceded. And Al-Sad are looking bright now. Momentum shifting in this tie. Youssef Atal picks up the ball in a good position. Good dribbling from him. He tries to find the cross, but it finds its way into the back of the net. Heavy deflection off Jung Sung-hyun, the unlucky defender. But Al-Sad have turned this tie around in a matter of four minutes. Wonderful skill to get to the byline and then somehow beats the goalkeeper. These bamboozles at the near post. And more pressure from Al-Sad. Acre-Mafif lays it short, whips it in, and it's an absolute beauty. Maldinio sets him up and Afif knocks them down. It's a goal of the highest calibre. His fifth, and has he scored one better than that? Right into the top right-hand corner. Well, the 2011 AFC champions are in a commanding position and Al-Basel are teetering on the edge of elimination as that cross is sent away. Paolo Ottavio pings it into Claudinho and it's into the side netting. Al-Sad threatening to run away with this tie as we go into the second half. And Al-Basel are going to have to come out fighting, which they do in the 57th minute. Deep ball in from Mihailovic. It's met by Pedro. And what a save! Marshall Basham, fabulous reflexes, somehow manages to claw it away. Well, into stoppage time. Paolo Ottavio breaking forward, stings the palms of Khalid. And the hosts have kept Al-Basel at bay in this second half. Time running out. Al-Basel coming forward, trying to halve the deficit through Jonatas Santos. Still Jonatas! And he flashes this shot over the bar. Well, that was the final big chance of an enthralling tie. Plenty of action at both ends of the pitch. But for Al-Basel, it's the end of the road. They were just blown away by the attacking capabilities of Al-Sad. There was huge entertainment over the two legs, but it's the side of Qatar who take the step into the quarterfinals. It's time for four-time champions Al-Hilal to stand up and be counted, as they host Patakour in the second leg of the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Elite. Patakour won the first leg by 1-0, and Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus admitted his side were below par in the extreme weather conditions. He has to make do without Aleksandr Mitrovic, who is out within a regular heartbeat, while Milinkovic-Savic has muscular problems. Cancelo is also missing. Patakour, meanwhile, have their noses in front in the tie and may well park the bus in order to get through to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2020. Flammarion will be sniffing for chances, as he did last week, getting the only goal. It's Al-Hilal who pile the pressure on from the off. However, they've been frustrated so far by the Patakour defence, but suddenly there's a chance there as Hamad Alyami pulls away. Marcos Leonardo forces a save from Jonathan. Into the 30th minute, the pressure's starting to tell here. As there's a lovely ball here for Cano. It's a beautiful ball across, and there is the opener. It's Hamad Alyami with a cracking finish. 1-0 on the night and all square on aggregate. What a ball that is, and a quality header right into the corner. Just a couple of minutes later, as Hamad Alyami is running riot here. The ball across, and what a save! Absolutely stunning from Jonathan. It's one of the saves of the season, as Motev Al-Habi. 40 makes it 2-0, but it isn't. 41st minute, and that's a brilliant slide rule pass here from Cano through to Malcolm, and it's 2-0 finally. He slides it home so calmly given the circumstances, and Al-Hilal lead 2-1 on aggregate. At halftime, it's 2-0 on the night to Al-Hilal. It's all going to plan, as they've turned it around on aggregates. But coming into the second half, there's a big chance here for Paktakor. It's lovely play from Ali Zhurnov. The shooting chance, it's gone across, and what a save that is by Borno. Absolutely incredible. The missed headshot here from Ali Zhurnov falls to Flammarion, and he couldn't finish due to the interception there from the keeper. Almost straight up the other end now, as Salem gets into the box. He goes down. He's clattered by Ali Zhurnov, and that's a penalty. It's not been Ali Zhurnov's night so far, as Salem picks himself up to take the resulting spot kick. And there was no real doubt. He makes it 3-0, 3-1 on aggregates, and Al-Hilal are clear. Into the 73rd minute now, and Al-Hilal are trying to pick off Paktakor, as there's a beautiful ball forward for Marcos Leonardo, and the strike flashes across the face of goal. Into time added on, Al-Hilal have been teasing Paktakor, as they try and create one last chance. There's a square ball here, and it's the tap-in for Nasser for 4-0. He's just come on as sub, and he finishes off Paktakor, as it's 4-0 on the night, 4-1 on aggregates, as Al-Hilal come back and avoid an upset against battling Paktakor. The Saudis safely through to the quarterfinals. Khalidov, congratulations. What a great game. What a great result. Al-Hilal today is similar to Al-Hilal always in this season. What is the change we find today in Al-Hilal in this game? It was the same Al-Hilal. We just wanted to win so bad for the supporters, for everybody, for us. We knew that the first game was difficult in the difficult condition, but today we show our talent, our team in the pitch. We wanted to win so bad, and we show it. And today, Alhamdulillah, we won, so we are happy to go to the next round. Al-Hilal fans, before the game, reception, the boss of the team. It's wonderful look. Tell me about the impression. How's that affecting you guys? Yes, we are very happy, you know, when they welcome the bus like this. It was amazing. We see all the light, all the songs. So it was more focused, more power for the game. And today we play for us and we show them that we are here. We want to show them that we're always here. Now we win these two games. We have an important game this weekend and we're going to continue to fight, inshallah. Al-Hilal Saudi fans are out in force for their round of 16 second leg beating with Al-Ghaiyan of Qatar. And the home crowd are fully aware that their team already hold a healthy advantage in this tie. It's from Heleno, Marquez and Al-Buraykan giving them a 3-1 lead. Al-Ghaiyan will have to make Roger Guedes who will be their key man. The Ivan Toni, the English striker, who starts up top for Al-Hilal Saudi. Al-Hilal Saudi sending it over to the right side for Riyad Mahrez. First touch from Mahrez. Lays it off for Heleno. Good effort from the edge of the area. The post, it's not the first time Al-Ahly have played just right in these early minutes. Al-Ahly Saudi, it's sent in towards Ibanez, wins the header. And somehow that one stayed out on the goal line. Was it Demiral there who inadvertently got the clearance on it? It's a hard passage of play but Al-Ghaiyan holds on in any case. Oh, Victor's in big trouble here. Firmino, right in front of goal. Somehow he is denied. He took a heavy touch. He lost his footing. And the keeper kept his head to keep Al-Firmino. Somehow Al-Ghaiyan holds on. The team chomped in that first half from the hosts. Most of them just off target. Guedes cutting in for Al-Ghaiyan. He had options in the middle. Wanted to go alone from the angle. It's a better start to this second half for Al-Ghaiyan though. He's still just about alive in the tie. He's warming up the heat a little bit in this second half. Guedes picks up the loose ball. Good turn. And it was full there for the shots. It's tipped over. Ramirinho, with the effort, just flashed it towards goal. Desartes with the header. And Ivan Toni off the goal line. He cleared it from almost underneath the crossbar. Excellent intervention there from the forwards. Al-Firmino. Mares, great control on the turn. As cool as they come from Riyad Mares. Mares turned and did this. Nagy, a lot of space for Al-Ghaiyan. Picks up Pereira on the penalty spot. Pereira lifted up and over. They've created a lot more now, Al-Ghaiyan. They've not been clinical enough. Galleiro. He's got the space to gallop away down the left-hand side. Plenty of options in the middle. Vega's one of them. Vega lays it off. And there is the second goal. Riyad Mares, the man again. It's taken them plenty of time to fully see off the challenge of Al-Ghaiyan. But eventually they will do so with a comfortable margin. Paolo Victor couldn't get to it. Two in the corner. Can't believe it. Toni clearing off the line once again. Great defending from the striker. Al-Ahly Saudi will secure their spot in the quarterfinals. Al-Ghaiyan gave that a good go, but the comeback never really looked on for them. Two goals from Riyad Mares made all the difference in the second leg. Al-Ahly Saudi ending up winning 5-1 on aggregate. With the round of 16 ties in the balance, some of the big stars at the AFC stepped forward in the second leg meetings. Cristiano Ronaldo and John Duran fired Al-Nasr to a comfortable win. And Akram Afif played the leading role for Al-Sad as they fought back to progress. Al-Ahly's home advantage and a sprinkling of Riyad Mares magic was enough for the Saudi side to keep Al-Ghaiyan at bay. And Mohamed Kano's chance creation propelled Al-Hilal past a plucky Pactecor team. Each of those four winners can now look forward with great interest to their quarterfinal fixtures as they move one round closer to getting their hands on the AFC Elite trophy. Needless to say, the last eight AFC sides from the East also had a round of 16 second leg match to play. The tabletoppers from the group league Yokohama Malinos had only carved out a slender margin over last gasp qualifiers Shanghai Port, but they still had a home game left to try and press home that advantage. Thai team Buriram United and Malaysian hopefuls Johor Dara Tassim were still locked at nil-nil after a fraught first leg. Bissell Corbet had a two-goal lead to take into their next meeting with Guangzhou FC. And despite some serious first leg pressure from Kawasaki Frontale, it was Shanghai Shenhua who were in front with 90 minutes, or perhaps more, still to come. Here's what happened as the AFC East sides completed their round of 16 second legs. After a winning goal from Anderson Lopez in the first leg, Yokohama Malinos hold a slender advantage over Shanghai Port, led by former Malinos boss Kevin Muscat, as both sides do battle for a quarterfinal place in the AFC Champions League Elite. Malinos, win back possession here cheaply. Sent through into the box for Tono. And Tono opens the scoring after 90 seconds. It's a dream start for the J League team. Uenaka sending it through after Yokohama won it back all too easily. Shanghai Port have it all to do now. Steve Holland will be delighted at how his team have come out of the blocks here. Malinos, swing the ball back in midfield. It's cheaply given away again. Shanghai Port wanted a free kick. They're not going to get one. And it's into the box and into the back of the net. Anderson Lopez just will not stop scoring in the AFC Champions League Elite. That's goal number eight of the campaign. He dinks it over the keeper. The visitors really could use a lifeline from somewhere. The look for a quick reply on this corner. Liang, and there's Leonardo at the back post. He's bundled home from almost on the line. Malinos' appeal for offside. But he darted in late there to turn it over the line. 3-1 now, the aggregate score. Malinos have some room on the left-hand side. Oh, they send in the cross. Instead, it's the simple pass. Yann Matheus finds acres of space in the box. Shanghai Port in big trouble from the second that that pass eluded the defender. Matheus just stroked it into the corner. He was not going to miss from there. The home side with three goals and one ruled out in the first half. They're firmly in the driving seat. Tonneau sends it through for Jean-Claude into the box. That's a great save at the near post. Liang Junling with a strong hand to turn that away. The corner's headed out. Jean-Claude outside the box. He has a goal from distance. He's come back off the post. He's fired back in and into the back of the net. Walsh got it back to Lopez. It was a bit of a mess, but Shanghai Port could not get it away after it cannoned back off the woodwork. They extend their lead further. Yokohama Malinos on the break again. Is there a chance for goal number five of the day? Amano finds Anderson Lopez who draws the save. Well, they came into this contest as big favorites. They've certainly lived up to that today. Yokohama Malinos marching on to the quarterfinals and they look every bit like title contenders again. Malaysia's Johor Darul Tazim have their chance to play this second leg on home turf after a nail-biting first leg with Buriram United remained goalless despite several good chances. Neither side have yet taken that decisive step towards the AFC Champions League Elite quarterfinals. JVT are unbeaten at home in the competition this season. They need a keeper underneath Subiare to produce some stunning reflex stops to deny Buriram a home advantage last time out. Buriram coach Osmar Loss played down any disappointment in drawing that game saying that his team were inspired by holding the Malaysian champions level. Malaysia's Dion Kools will play for the Thai team today. He'll start again with Bisoli, Boakye and Supanat Muyanta the top three for Buriram. Am in green, wide on the right-hand side. A few options there. Muyanta moves it across and it'll come all the way over for Bisoli on the edge of the area. A decent low shot forced a good save from Subiare. JVT thought they'd led inside the first minute but they were nearly behind there. JVT move it nicely down towards the byline. The cutback meets Chris Beam. His clearance isn't a good one and JVT can only hit the post. Afik Fazal with a huge chance. Big moment there for the home team but they cannot find the opening goal. Free kick sent over from the left-hand side. Subiare's missed it. Supanat Muyanta's missed the target too though. A let off for JVT. It went all the way past the keeper. And Supanat couldn't steer it towards the goal. Halfway through this second leg and we're still goalless in this enthralling contest. Out of the box it goes. Buriram back in possession though. Space in the middle of Petr Jul. The Austrian line's run up from distance. That wasn't too far over. A decent shot with the left foot. Just too high to give Buriram the advantage. It's flicked forward casually. Buriram will win this back. Buriram-Kalicic driving towards the penalty area. Kalicic, Stafilov with the challenge. It falls nicely though. Supanat Muyanta. What a hit for Buriram United. Deadlock broken. Buriram in front. Bad luck for Stafilov in the defence. And a fine finish after that. And Buriram lead. JVT are starting to push their way back into this already. It's chipped into the box. Vieira gets it across towards Bergson. Heatheridge there to make an important grab just in the nick of time. Djordaro Tassim starting to wonder what they have to do now. Is there one last chance? Hesse carries it across the box. We're deep into stoppage time here. Maybe one final moment. Obregon! It couldn't have come any later. But hang on. The flag is up. The referee will have to decide. No goal. Buriram are going to win this. There's the final whistle. The cruelest possible exit for Djordaro Tassim. But what a moment for Buriram. Coe, Dugal and Good in the defence did so much for their cause. Supanat Muyanta, the match-winning hero for the Thai team. A gutting exit for Djordaro Tassim. But Buriram advance to the quarterfinals at the end of a breathless round of 16 Thai. It's 1-0 Buriram. The aggregate score. Kawasaki Frontala will surely go on the attack to overturn their deficit from the first leg in the round of 16 against Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua who have beaten the Japanese twice already this season without conceding. The unfortunate Kota Tokai scored the only goal at the wrong end last week to hand Shenhua victory. And the Japanese have been putting the pressure on from the start here and finally in the 24th minute they've broken through. Asahi Sasaki with the dribble. It's a brilliantly disguised shot as well as he rifles it in at the near post. The goalkeeper unsighted. 1-0 to Kawasaki Frontala. 1-1 on aggregates. Coming towards the end of the half here at late corner. As the volley comes in and it's incredibly off the near post and it goes wide of the target. Kawahara with the efforts. Halftime 1-0 to the home team but we're all square on aggregates. Coming into the second half and it's a strong start from the Chinese. As there's a near foot which just flies wide here from Tachira. Going for the spectacular but it drops wide. All the pressure coming from Shanghai Shenhua but suddenly the Japanese can come on the counter attack here. Sasaki plays the ball in and that's a superb finish from Elissa. 2-0. It's against the run of play but Kawasaki Frontala lead the tie for the first time on aggregate and it's a great little finish as well. And what a lift that has given the home team. Some confident and patient play here from the Japanese. As the cutback is made and Ito is there and he picks his spot for 3-0. That's the cushion that Kawasaki Frontala were looking for. There's a tight offside decision but VAR give the goal and Kawasaki Frontala here seemingly cruising to the win. A brilliant finish as well. The 74th minute now. Kawasaki Frontala are just playing with Shanghai Shenhua. As the cross comes in and Marcinho volleys off the post. Into time added on. As Marcinho here is unmarked. He takes his time and lifts the finish into the back of the net. Well, he deserves that goal for his performance. It's a sublime finish and he makes it look so easy as well. The goalkeeper floundering. It ends 4-0 to Kawasaki Frontala who cruise through to the quarterfinals 4-1 on aggregate at the expense of Shanghai Shenhua. Osaka and Ide led J-League outfit Vissel Corbet to a 2-0 win in the first leg of this round of 16 tie. Can Gwangju of the Korea Republic strike back at home in the second leg? These two teams finished fourth and fifth in the group league phase so the signs suggest it could still be a close contest. Gwangju from the right. Send it in. It's missed by everybody. There'll be a shooting chance. Oh, he's young. He'll have another go. And it's turned behind for a corner. Gwangju starting strongly here as they look to come from two down. Park Taejun sends it over from the left. It'll fall nicely in the middle. Good goalkeeping from Maekawa. The race with the shot from inside the box. And out it goes. Gwangju really pushing in the early stages. They want that early goal. Park Taejun standing over the free kick. It's swinging into the middle and the header's up and in. Park Jeong-in getting on the end of it. And Gwangju are on the board here and right back in the contest. The Gwangju pressure has faded a touch since that goal but they remain just one behind at halftime. Gwangju upping the pressure in this second half now. He steps inside and goes for the long shot through the save from Maekawa. The whistle call by Kieper got down to it. Out of the box it goes. That's the call we have with Muto. Go up to the right and Sasaki from the right-hand side of the area flashes the shot across the face of goal. Some signs of life from the guests. How they would love to re-establish that two-goal cushion. The cross comes over all the way through. Appeals for handball there. Did it hit the hand of Iwanami? The referee says yes, it did. Late drama. It's Asani from the penalty spot. He was not going to miss. No pressure on the shoulders of Asani or it looked like that at least as he buried the penalty. This one is going all the way to extra time. Gwangju have it. Space on the right-hand side. They've sent in several crosses today. Here's another good one and that brings out a tremendous stop from Maekawa. Brilliant header and a great save. Still pushing. Choi knocks it back to Asani. There is the winning goal. Off the crossbar for Gwangju FC. It's a goal worthy of winning any contest and surely it will be the winner here. Three goals to nil. They've turned this on its head. The champions of Japan eliminated. Gwangju go through to the quarterfinals. To be honest, it's a very hard game and I am so happy because we make a rematch now at home. 3-0, I'm so happy. But to be honest, I didn't sleep two days because I think about this game because it's hard for us and it's for me and for our team is the life. And we make it today 100% and if you see everyone is happy and we go to the next round now. Some ties saw a clear winner emerge. Others remained on a knife edge until right at the last. But ultimately, only four could take their places in the quarterfinals. Anderson Lopez continued his fantastic Champions League elite form. Goals number eight and nine of the campaign carried last season's finalists Yokohama Marinos into the next round. Buriram just edged out JDT in an enthralling contest. Gwangju FC and Vissel Kobe went the distance but it was Gwangju who came through after extra time. And Massigno added the final touch on a comfortable win for Kawasaki Frontale as they turned around the deficit to get past Shanghai Shenhua on home turf. For each of the eight qualifiers who secured their quarterfinal spots, a trip to Saudi now awaits at the end of April as the AFC Champions League elite builds towards a triumphant conclusion at the beginning of May. With the competition whittled down to the final few teams, each of the last eight can truly start to dream of getting their hands on Asia's Premier Club trophy. For Yokohama Marinos and Anderson Lopez, there's an extra edge having lost out in last year's showpiece finale. Each of the top five scorers in this season's edition found the net when it really mattered in the round of 16. But it's Lopez who leads the way, tied with Jessia Asani on nine goals. Mares is on eight, Ronaldo on seven. They're amongst a group of stars vying for the top spot. Will one of them lead their team to AFC glory? We'll find out when the last eight teams meet next month.