Ettifaq, who had a 100% home record in winning Group D, completely dominated the first-half but despite having several clear cut chances the home side had only Prince Tagoe’s 33rd minute strike to show for their efforts.

And after failing to reproduce the dominance in the second-half as Pakhtakor took control, first-half substitute Zaynitdin Tadjiyev equalised with 11 minutes remaining before second-half substitute Geynrikh sent Group A runners-up Pakhtakor through to the last eight.

Tagoe should have handed Ettifaq the lead after just six minutes as he raced through the middle to find himself on the end of a defence splitting cross from Abdulrahman Al Qahtani, but the Ghanaian striker took his eye off the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Tagoe again should have broken the deadlock after 18 minutes as he capitalised on an under-hit back-pass but after breaking into the area, Pakhtakor goalkeeper Ignatiy Nestervov made a low diving save.

But it was third time lucky for Tagoe 12 minutes before the break with probably the most difficult of his chances as he took Salah Aqqal’s through ball into his stride before firing low past Nestervov.

The lively Tagoe shot wide four minutes before the break after again beating the Pakhtakor off-side trap but Ettifaq had to settle for a 1-0 half-time lead against a Pakhtakor side who had failed to muster a real chance in the first-half.

After a slow start to the second-half Pakhtakor striker Farhod Tadjiyev shot wide in the 63rd minute as Ettifaq struggled to reproduce their dominance as seen in the first period.

With 20 minutes remaining the home side finally created a threat as Sultan Albargan saw a shot blocked and defender Sayyaf Al Bishi volleyed over from close range.

But nine minutes later Zaynitdin Tadjiyev broke into the area was able to hold off an Ettifaq defender before lifting his effort over Hussain Shaian from the edge of the six yard area.

Three minutes later Zaynitdin Tadjiyev almost added a second but could not guide his header on target.
But with extra-time looming, the visitors were not to be denied as Geynrikh’s well-struck rising free-kick flew into the top corner past Shaian’s despairing dive.