AFC Champions League wrap: Wagner hat-trick seals win for El Jaish

A treble from Brazilian midfielder Wagner sealed a second win in Group A for El Jaish and subjected Al Shabab to their first defeat in this season’s AFC Champions League.

Wagner opened the scoring after only three minutes, but had to wait until the final 10 minutes to add the two goals he needed to take the match ball home with him and close the gap at the top of Group A to just two points.

Emirati side Al Jazira moved themselves off the bottom of Group A with a 2-0 win over Tractor Sazi in Abu Dhabi, a win that drops the Iranian side to the foot of the table.

Former Milan striker Ricardo de Oliveira opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but they had to wait until injury time for substitute Subait Khater to secure the victory.

Group B’s bottom side Al Shabab Al Arabi caused a shock as they came from behind to beat group leaders Lekhwiya 3-1 in Dubai.

The visitors took the lead in the 37th minute through their Tunisian playmaker Youssef Msakni, but goals from Brazilian strikers Ciel and Edgar and Essa Obaid combined with a late sending-off for captain Majid Bougherra condemned Lekhwiya to their first defeat of the campaign.

There was another shock in the group’s other game as two first-half goals gave Al Ettifaq a comfortable win over Pakhtakor in Dammam.

Midfielder Yahia Alshehri opened the scoring in the 24th minute for the home side before Jamaan Aljamaan doubled their lead just before the break; however with Al Shabab also winning the Saudi Arabian side remain at the bottom of the group.