UAE clubs put in a strong showing in matchweek two of the AFC Champions League Elite, finishing with two wins and one defeat from three fixtures.
Al Ain thrashed Iraq's Al Quwa Al Jawiya 4-1 away from home. El Houssine Rahimi scored twice in the first half, Kaku added a goal in the 13th minute, and an own goal from host defender Saed Al-Rousan rounded out the scoring before Al Quwa Al Jawiya grabbed a consolation goal in the 89th minute. The result lifts Al Ain to the top of the West Region table, having scored eight goals while conceding just one across two matches.
Shabab Al Ahli also picked up a win on the road, beating Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad 2-1 in Jeddah. Iranian forward Sardar Azmoun scored both goals for the Dubai club, taking Shabab Al Ahli to six points from two games.
Al Wasl, however, fell to a 3-1 home defeat against Saudi side Al Ahli. Pedro Malheiro had given Al Wasl the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Roger Ibanez, Trincao and Feras Al-Brikan scored for the visitors to turn the match around.
The results underline a solid round for UAE football in Asia's top club competition, with Al Ain's commanding form in the West Region marking the club as one of the leading contenders for qualification this season. Shabab Al Ahli's away win in Jeddah has also put the club in a strong position in its group, while Al Wasl will need a response in its next outing after Wednesday's setback.