Toma Tabatadze's late personal purpose spared Karim Benzema's blushes because the defender gifted Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad a 2-1 win over Navbahor of Uzbekistan on Thursday to arrange an Asian Champions League quarterfinal assembly with compatriots Al Hilal.
The French striker headed Jamshid Iskanderov's free kick into his personal internet within the twenty fifth minute to provide the guests the lead in Jeddah, with the groups going into the tie degree after a scoreless draw within the first leg final week.
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)
However Benzema made partial amends in first half harm time, rising highest to fulfill Ahmed Al Ghamdi's nook to move the ball into Abderrazaq Hamedallah's path and the Moroccan swept his first-time strike past Utkir Yusupov to equalise.
The sport was headed for extra-time when Tabatadze sliced his try to clear Saleh Al-Amri's 87th minute nook, the ball looping wickedly over Yusupov's head to place Al Ittihad via.
The win means Al Ittihad shall be considered one of three Saudi Professional League golf equipment within the competitors's final eight with Al-Hilal additionally progressing following a 3-1 win in Riyadh over Sepahan on Thursday that gave Jorge Jesus' facet a 6-2 mixture victory.
Getty Pictures/Getty Pictures
Farshad Ahmadzadeh had put the Iranians in entrance on the night time when he bundled the ball over the road within the 54th minute, however Sepahan's momentum was stalled when Siavash Yazdani was despatched off within the 71st minute for a late problem on Malcom.
Salem Al Dawsari turned contained in the Sepahan penalty space to strike 5 minutes later to revive Al Hilal's two-goal cushion total and Rúben Neves confirmed his facet's progress with a thunderous strike from distance with eight minutes left.
Aleksandar Mitrovic added Al Hilal's third from shut vary seven minutes into harm time.
Al Ittihad and Al Hilal will now meet subsequent month in a western quarterfinal line-up dominated by the big-spending golf equipment from Saudi Arabia.
The pair are joined by Al-Nassr within the final eight, with Cristiano Ronaldo's facet as a consequence of tackle Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates within the subsequent spherical after their win over fellow Saudi Professional League membership Al Fayha on Wednesday.
South Korean champions Ulsan Hyundai will tackle compatriots Jeonbuk Motors within the japanese half of the draw whereas Yokohama F Marinos from Japan will play Chinese language Tremendous League facet Shandong Taishan.
The primary legs of the quarterfinals shall be performed from March 4 to six, with the return fixtures held from March 11 to 13.
Supply hyperlink - espnfc.com