First-half goals by Mouslim Mubarek, Abdalsalam Abboud and Haidar Sabah put the visitors in complete control before substitute Saoud Khames pulled back a late consolation for the home side.

The defeat condemned Al Rayyan to last place in Group A with only two points from six games, while Al Zawra'a finished second behind group winners Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates with a highly creditable 11 points.

The game had been shifted from Al Rayyan's home ground, which is being prepared for this Saturday's Emir's Cup final, but the change in venue had little positive effect on the Qatari outfit, who had failed to win any of their previous five Group A games, scoring only two goals in the process.

French coach Pierre Lechantre, who is set to be replaced by Brazilian Paulo Autuori next month, took charge of the club for the final time but found himself once again handicapped by a spate of injuries that left him with only 13 fit players.

Among the players missing for the Qatari side were French playmaker Sabri Lamouchi, Qatar internationals Adel Lamy and Waleed Jassim, and midfielders Hussein Yasser and Ali Al Marri.

The visitors took full advantage, dominating play in all departments and storming out to a two-goal lead as Mubarak opened the scoring after 13 minutes and Abboud made it 2-0 in the 26th minute.

It could have been much worse for the home side as Mubarek fired a shot straight at goalkeeper Soud Al Hajri while Ahmed Abrahim put his effort against the left upright.

However, the third goal did eventually arrive for Al Zawra'a through Sabah in the 34th minute

Al Hajri's lacklustre display saw him replaced at half-time by Qasim Burhan, who enjoyed a quieter second half as the Iraqis sat back on their comfortable lead.

Khames got a goal back for the home side 15 minute from time but it was little more than a consolation on a disappointing night for the Qatari side.