The Brazilian striker scored the only goal of the game with 11 minutes to go as a mistake from Omar Hemidi gifted the Saudi side a slender victory which sees them move three points clear of Al Ittihad Aleppo and Kuruvchi at the top of the group.

The home side were backed by a noisy support at the Aleppo International Stadium but neither side really took control of the game in a tight, tense match.

The Syrians almost raced into the lead as, with barely 20 seconds on the clock, Yahia Al Rached drilled a fierce effort just wide of the left upright.

Former AFC Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari almost gifted Al Ittihad Aleppo the lead in the 17th minute when his backpass was picked up by Al Rached who picked out Mahmoud Al Amna in the box but the visitors managed to clear in the nick of time.

The home fans were in uproar 10 minutes later as Al Ittihad Jeddah player Redah Tukar appeared to handball Al Rached's shot but Qatari referee Abdullah Balideh waved away the penalty appeals.

The visitors began to get into the game towards the end of the first half and Adnan Falatah and Alves came close to breaking the deadlock.

The Saudi side came out fighting after the break and Mohammed Noor and Osama Al Harbi both went agonisingly close to giving them the lead.

Alves almost scored in the 58th minute but his effort was blocked by Majd Homsi and Keita could only blaze the rebound over the bar.

But Alves - the AFC Champions League top scorer in 2006 - did find the back of the net in the 79th minute to claim all three points for Al Ittihad Jeddah.

ENDS