Al Ain made it three wins out of three in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 on 26 October (local time), beating Iran's Tractor FC 2-1 on a day when late goals settled two other West region matchday-three games. According to the AFC's match reports, Matheus Goncalves scored in the 86th minute as Al Ahli Saudi FC beat 10-man Al Gharafa SC 2-1, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri struck in the 90th minute to complete Al Ittihad Club's 2-1 comeback away to PFC Neftchi. Al Qadsiah and Al Sadd drew 1-1, while Iraq's Air Force SC beat Pakhtakor 1-0.
Matchday three results
Scores and goals from the five AFC reports, compiled by KBVN+:
| Match | Score | Goal details |
|---|---|---|
| PFC Neftchi v Al Ittihad | 1-2 | Substitute Youssef En-Nesyri scored the 90th-minute winner |
| Al Ahli Saudi v Al Gharafa | 2-1 | Ivan Toney 4', Florinel Coman 53', Matheus Goncalves 86' |
| Al Ain v Tractor | 2-1 | Ramy Rabia 21', Tibor Halilovic 55', Houssine Rahimi 70' |
| Al Qadsiah v Al Sadd | 1-1 | Akram Afif 74', Julian Quinones 84' |
| Air Force v Pakhtakor | 1-0 | Sadd Abdulameer 70' |
How the games were decided
The drama came late in Jeddah and Fergana. Two-time champions Al Ahli led in the fourth minute when Ivan Toney chipped goalkeeper Ahmed Kone, and Florinel Coman levelled for Al Gharafa in the 53rd. The game turned when Al Gharafa's Seydou Sano was sent off for a second yellow card in the 76th minute; Goncalves then curled Ziyad Al Johani's cross into the bottom corner. In Uzbekistan, Al Ittihad came from behind for their first win of the campaign.
Al Ain's winner came from Houssine Rahimi, the Moroccan forward who, the AFC noted, had already scored braces against Al Nassr and Air Force. Centre-back Ramy Rabia had opened the scoring with a swerving left-footed shot from 30 yards, and Tibor Halilovic equalised for Tractor after Danial Esmaeilifar hit the post, before Rahimi turned in Yahya Benkhaleq's cross at the back post.
In Dammam, two-time AFC Player of the Year Akram Afif curled Al Sadd's first goal of the League Stage into the top corner, but Julian Quinones replied ten minutes later with a shot deflected in off Tarek Salman. In Baghdad, Pakhtakor had a 17th-minute penalty overturned by VAR, and captain Sadd Abdulameer scored against the run of play from close range after Achraf Boudrama headed down a free-kick.
Points after three games
Points for the sides who played on 26 October, compiled from the AFC reports:
| Team | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ain (UAE) | 9 | Three wins from three |
| Al Ahli Saudi (KSA) | 7 | Beat Al Gharafa |
| Al Qadsiah (KSA) | 5 | Still unbeaten |
| Al Ittihad (KSA) | 4 | First win |
| PFC Neftchi (UZB) | 3 | Beat Air Force in their opener |
| Air Force (IRQ) | 3 | Ended a two-game losing run |
| Al Sadd (QAT) | 1 | First point after two defeats |
| Tractor (IRN) | 1 | Still without a win |
| Al Gharafa (QAT) | 0 | Three defeats |
Pakhtakor are also still looking for a first victory, and Qatar's two sides in action on 26 October have one point between them.
What's next
The West region's third round continues on 27 October. Al Shamal, who have two draws, host Al Hilal SFC at Al Bayt Stadium, while Shabab Al Ahli and Esteghlal FC meet at Rashid Stadium in Dubai. According to the AFC, Al Hilal, Shabab Al Ahli and Esteghlal all have a perfect six points from two games.
The East region plays its third round on 27 and 28 October. On 27 October, Beijing FC host Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ratchaburi face Kashiwa Reysol and Công an Hà Nội visit Shanghai Port FC. The AFC's preview said Shanghai Port have four points, while the Vietnamese club are on a two-match losing run.
Read more: Công an Hà Nội head to Shanghai seeking a first AFC Champions League Elite point