Brazilian striker Alves grabbed the winner with 10 minutes remaining to send Al Ittihad top of their group alongside namesake Al Ittihad of Syria.

Al Ittihad had their first chance of the game after 18 minutes when Brazilian midfielder Anderson Tcheco struck a powerful volley over the crossbar.

They had another chance in the 34th minute when Tcheco set-up Guinean striker Alhassane Keita but his shot went over the Kuruvchi goal.

Kuruvchi had a great chance to snatch the lead six minutes before the break when Victor Karpenko went one-on-one with the Al Ittihad goalkeeper but managed to send his shot over the crossbar.

Two-time Asian Champions League winners Al Ittihad had two chances late in the first half as Keita received a cross from the left but he sent the ball over the crossbar before former Asian Player of the Year Hamad Al Montashari sent his shot wide.

Al Ittihad started the second half well and should have opened the scoring two minutes after the break when Keita passed the ball to Saud Khariri but the Saudi international midfielder's shot went wide.

Kuruvchi came close in the 63rd minute when Server Djeparov's corner forced Al Ittihad goalkeeper Taisir Al Ntaif to push the ball to safety.

And in the 70th minute Karpenko tested Al Ntaif with a long range drive but the Saudi goalkeeper saved well.

It proved decisive as Al Ittihad opened the scoring with 10 minutes remaining.

Adnan Falatah sent a cross from the right to Brazilian striker Magno Alves and the former Asian Champions League top scorer made no mistake.

Al Ittihad were given a late scare in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Rashidjon Gofurov received the ball inside the area and ht a powerful shot towards goal but Al Ntaif did well to preserve his clean sheet.