The hosts had taken the lead courtesy of Lee Jung-soo's gem of a volley seconds before half-time but Temurkhuja Abdulkholiqov levelled for the visitors in the 56th minute.

Four minutes later, however, Arif popped up to head in the winner from close range and seal the points for Al Sadd. Pakhtakor then had Komoliddin Tadjiev sent off on the stroke of full time.

The star of the evening, however, was Abdul Kader Keita as he pulled the strings for the Qatar side. The result leaves them level with Al Nassr at the top of the table.

Wednesday's key clash, played in chilly conditions enveloping the Qatari capital, witnessed slick moves from both sides in the opening exchanges but none of them threatened either goalkeeper.

In the 20th minute, Al Sadd striker Keita fed Leandro (Leandro Montera Da Silva) but he failed to find the back of the net from close range.

Playing on home soil for the first time in the 2011 AFC Champions League, defenders Nadir Belhadj and Mesaad Ali combined well to keep Pakhatkor striker Abdulkholiqov from penetrating the Al Sadd backline.

In the 27th minute, Keita, who scored during Al Sadd's 1-1 draw against Esteghlal in Iran two weeks ago, nearly pulled off a fine solo effort.

Under pressure from three defenders, Keita chipped the ball from the edge of the box that floated over the head of Paktakor goalkeeper Temur Jurev but also the bar.

Seven minutes later, in-form Keita found unmarked Hassan Al Haydos inside the Pakhatkor box and the diminutive striker fired a volley that was blocked by goalkeeper Juraev.

With eight minutes to go before half time, Paktakor defender Kozak Vladimir unleashed an effort from distance that flew inches above the Al Sadd crossbar.

Al Sadd thought they had broken the deadlock when Keita slipped a pass to team-mate Leandro, and he calmly beat goalkeeper Juraev but the linesman quickly waved the flag for offside, much to the dismay of the local fans.

The disappointment was soon forgotten, though, as seconds from the half-time whistle Belhadj's cross was met by Korea Republic international Lee and he volleyed home from near the penalty spot to put the hosts in front.

The Uzbeks threatened nine minutes after the restart when Karimov Sherzodbek curled one from about 30 yards but his shot was turned away by Al Sadd goalkeeper Mohammed Saqr.

However, Pakhtakor conjured an equaliser in the 56th minute when Sherzodbek crossed towards Abdulkholiqov and he produced a diving header that beat Saqr.

But an Al Sadd double substitution was to prove decisive and Afif headed home from close range to restore Al Sadd's advantage before Pakhtakor's misery was further compounded with Tadjiev's late dismissal.