Ilhomjon Suyunov brought down George Kwesi inside the box with just six minutes to go and Araujo (Clemerson de Araujo Soares) made no mistake from the spot to send the hosts into the last eight.

It was no less than the Qatari side deserved after they dominated the majority of the encounter.

Al Gharafa threatened as early as the second minute when Juninho curled a free-kick just past the post.

Araujo then beat three defenders in the ninth minute but his shot was blocked by Pakhtakor goalkeeper Temur Juraev, who proved a formidable barrier for much of the contest.

Two minutes later, the Brazilian diverted Kwesi’s pass towards goal but Juraev punched the ball away to avert the danger.

Younes Mahmood saw a header from Juninho’s free-kick fly inches above the crossbar in the 21st minute and four minutes later, Pakhtakor’s Akmal Holmatov showed his searing pace with a solo effort but his blistering shot from the edge of the Al Gharafa box hit the side netting.

Four minutes later, Odil Ahmedov caused a measure of panic with a long-range effort before Mahmood saw a fierce strike from close range well held by Juraev.

The Pakhtakor keeper again denied the Iraq striker following a storming run into the box and the latter was off target from close range three minutes before the break.

Al Gharafa picked up where they left off at the start of the second period but Juraev once again came to Pakhtakor’s rescue when he blocked Araujo’s header from close range.

The Brazilian again extended the visiting custodian with a looping header in the 66th minute and barely two minutes later, Araujo fired wide following Mahmood’s pass.

Saad Al Shammari was introduced off the bench in the 78th minute and almost made an immediate impact when his chip forward found Mahmood but the striker’s header was just off target.

However, Al Gharafa were not to be denied and in the 84th minute the home side were awarded a penalty which was successfully converted by Araujo to send the Qatar champions through to the quarter-finals.