Tashkent, April 10: Two goals from star player Xavi Hernandez were not enough for Al Sadd as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Pakhtakor Tashkent in the AFC Champions League.
The former Barcelona hero twice put the newly-crowned Qatar Stars League champions ahead in Uzbekistan, but Khojiakbar Alijonov and Dragan Ceran ensured a point for the home side.
The result keeps Pakhtakor top of Group D, a point above Al Sadd after three matches, while Persepolis moved into third with a 2-0 defeat of Al Ahli.
الزعيم يعود للدوحة ويستأنف تدريباته الخميس استعداداً لمواجهة أم صلال ضمن الاسبوع الـ22 والأخير من #دوري_نجوم_QNB للموسم 2018 \ 2019 #السد#قطر pic.twitter.com/U05FnF3vXh
— AlSadd S.C | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) April 10, 2019
Holders Kashima Antlers secured a 3-2 win away to Gyeongnam thanks to a dramatic final 15 minutes in Changwon.
One for the @FCBarcelona and @atletienglish fans. pic.twitter.com/uBarZfBvo0
— AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL) April 9, 2019
The Japanese side were 2-0 down heading into the final quarter of an hour thanks to an own goal from Tomoya Inukai and a strike from Jordon Mutch.
An own goal from Woo Ju-sung got Antlers back in the game, and although Inukai's miserable outing was compounded by a second yellow card, Takeshi Kanamori and Serginho struck a goal apiece in injury time to snatch victory.
They now lead Group E, two points ahead of Shandong Luneng, who beat Johor Darul Ta'zim 2-1 through goals from Marouane Fellaini and Graziano Pelle.
Jeonbuk Motors moved top of Group G by beating Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0, while Beijing Sinobo Guoan are level on points with the J1 League side thanks to a 3-1 win at Buriram United courtesy of Cedric Bakambu's hat-trick.
In Group B, Al Wahda moved top after Leonardo's injury-time penalty sealed a 2-1 win at Al Rayyan, while Al-Ittihad are also on six points after Fahad Al Muwallad also scored from the spot in stoppage time to see off Lokomotiv Tashkent 3-2.
(With OPTA inputs)