Essa Obaid scored twice while an own goal from Aziz Alijonov completed the scoring as the Emirati side booked a place in Group D alongside Qatar's Al Gharafa, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia and Piroozi from Iran.

Obaid opened the scoring after just six minutes when a cross into the Neftchi penalty area from Mahmood Qassim Juma was directly goalward by Obaid, who saw his initial effort saved by Hilsatjon Chilmatov. Brazilian striker Kieza (Welker Marçal Almeida) hit the crossbar with his effort from the rebound, only for Obaid to head the ball home as it came back off the woodwork.

Al Shabab had to wait until the 60th minute before making the score 2-0 when Obaid headed home again, this time from a cross by Walid Abbas.

Neftchi had had the better of the opening exchanges in the second half but the Uzbeks were unable to find a way onto the score board and, in the final seconds of stoppage time, their disappointment was compounded further when Alijonov directed a cross by Al Shabab's Uzbek midfielder Azizbek Haydarov past his own goalkeeper.

"We wanted to qualify for the AFC Champions League, especially because teams from the UAE haven't performed well in previous competitions," said two-goal hero Obaid.

"Neftchi are a strong team and they gave us some problems in the first half. We didn't know how to play against them but things changes in the second half and we took advantage from the chances we had."