Al Jazira advanced to the last-16 of the AFC Champions League after a 90th-minute own goal from Al Rayyan’s Cho Yong-Hyung handed the Emirati side a 3-2 win.
Jazira had moved closer to qualifying but with third-placed side Esteghlal losing 2-1 to Group A leaders Al Shabab, the result means the Abu Dhabi club will join the Saudi Arabian outfit in the last-16 draw.
Jazira now have 10 points from five games, while Al Shabab are on 12 and the two teams will meet next week in Abu Dhabi to decide who will top the group.
Jazira opened the scoring through Abdelaziz Barrada, before Al Rayyan’s Moussa Haroon levelled early in the second half.
After finding themselves 2-1 down courtesy of a Yakubu penalty, Jazira replied through Ali Mabkhout before Yong-Hyung sliced the ball into his own net in the 90th minute.
Walter Zenga’s side started brightly, with Felipe Caicedo seeing his first-time effort stopped by Saud Al Hajiri following Mabkhout’s low-driven cross.
Just before the half-hour mark, the Qatari side picked up momentum and nearly went ahead through Hamad Al Obaidli but his shot was palmed away by Jazira’s Ali Khaseif.
Al Jazira began to grow in confidence and upped their tempo. First, Barrada wasted a glorious opportunity after Mabkhout and Caicedo combined to put the Moroccan clean through.
With no defender in sight, the Mexican hit the ball first time but his tame effort didn’t trouble Al Hajiri.
Despite their missed chances, Jazira were rewarded when Barrada opened proceedings with a wonderful free-kick just before the half-time whistle.
The Moroccan striker curled the ball over the wall to leave Al Hajiri with no chance.
Minutes after the restart, Jazira nearly doubled their lead. Attacking immediately, Khalid Sebil went forward beating two defenders before setting up Abdulla Qasem, who laid on the ball to Barrada but he was denied by Al Hajiri.
Moments later, Al Rayyan, who were relegated to the second division last week, were rewarded with a penalty after Qasem needlessly fouled Lucho Gonzalez. Former Portsmouth striker Yakubu converted the penalty to level the score.
In the 50th minute, Jazira had the opportunity to take the lead for the second time but quick intervention from Abdullah denied Mabkhout on the left hand side.
But soon after Jazira were made to pay as Al Rayyan took the lead three minutes later through Moussa Haroon.
The Qatari defender beat Khaseif, who came off his line but was beaten to the ball by the Qatari, who made no mistake in finding the target six yards out.
The goal sparked Al Rayyan, whose players grew in confidence as the game went on. But Jazira got themselves level on the hour mark when Barrada set up Mabkhout, who made no mistake in slotting the ball home in an unmarked goal to make it 2-2.
Soon after, Lucho wasted an opportunity to make it 3-2 to the former Qatari champions after Barrada blocked his shot with 15 minutes remaining as both sides went forward in search of the winner.
The decisive goal eventually came through Yong-Hyung, who after pressure from Caicedo sliced the ball past his own goalkeeper to give Zenga’s side the three points.
