HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian player of the year Omar Abdulrahman led Al Ain into the Asian Champions League quarter-finals as last year's beaten finalists handed Esteghlal of Iran a 6-1 thrashing on Monday. Abdulrahman scored twice and set up a third in the win that helped the club from the United Arab Emirates overcome a 1-0 defeat in the first leg to record a 6-2 aggregate victory. Brazilian striker Caio scored twice in six first-half minutes to put Al Ain in command before Abdulrahman instigated Esteghlal's ruthless destruction in the second half, scoring his side's third in the 49th minute from a tight angle. Zoran Mamic's team will be joined in the draw for the next phase of the competition - which will be conducted in Kuala Lumpur on June 6 - by Al Ahli Saudi, whose 3-0 win over Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates ensured Christian Gross's side secured a 4-1 aggregate win. Taisir Al Jassim and Hussain Al Mogahwi put Al Ahli Saudi in command and a pair of yellow cards for Makhete Diop gave the club from the United Arab Emirates a mountain to climb.

Source: The Star May 30, 2017 00:00 UTC