Angola international Maurito opened the scoring after eight minutes and Haidar Alo Ali and Mamadou Bagayoko both converted from the penalty spot as the Abu Dhabi side easily claimed their fourth win in five games in Group A.

With the victory, Al Wahda joined defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea, Group F winners Kawasaki Frontale of Japan and Group B winners Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in the last eight.

Al Rayyan were well out of contention for a quarter-final spot after managing only two points from four games and they entered the match with a number of players missing through injury.

And they suffered a further setback after only eight minutes when Alo Ali worked his way through midfield before laying on a pass for an unmarked Maurito to score at the far post.

Alo Ali doubled Al Wahda's lead on the half-hour mark, converting from the penalty spot after Thiago Cardoso brought down Bagayoko in the box.

Al Rayyan put up a spirited display in the opening half but were unable to find a way through the gritty Al Wahda defence. The closest they came to pulling a goal back was in the 35th minute when Cardoso's effort grazed Nadir Lamyaghri's left post.

Bagayoko had a mixed evening as the lanky French striker missed a number of opportunities in each half.

However, he was given a chance to make amends in the 75th minute when Australian referee Mark Shield awarded the home side another penalty for Shami Suwaid's foul on substitute Mahmood Khamis.

Bagayoko made no mistake this time, sending the ball neatly into the corner of the net to seal the three points for his side.