Shabab were the quicker to settle and threatened in the ninth minute with Guilherme Bala collecting a rebound at the top of the box from a set-piece situation, only to send his volley high.

With Shabab dominant, chances were at a premium for Sharjah but they wasted two in quick succession, with Marcus Meloni curling his free-kick over the bar in the 37th minute and Adel Taarabt, after dancing his way into the box a minute later, saw his shot from an acute angle cleared.

Sharjah closed the half strongly, with Caio Lucas creating space for Luanzinho who weaved his way through before unleashing a shot which forced keeper Hamad Al Meqebaali to parry. 

The ball fell kindly at the feet of Ousmane Camara, but his shot was cleared on the line by Renan as Shabab escaped. 

Shabab had the perfect start to the second half, needing less than a minute to take the lead with Saeid Ezatolahi threading a well-timed through ball for Azmoun, who evaded his marker to slot past Hamad Al Meqebaali for his fifth AFC Champions League Two goal in three matches and ninth overall. 

Shabab could have added their second in the 66th minute when Azmoun floated the ball for Mu'nas Dabbur, whose shot was saved by keeper Adel Al Hosani with Sharjah punishing the hosts two minutes later. 

Moments after Luanzinho pulled his effort just wide of the right post from inside the box, 

Bogdan Planic was dispossessed by Taarabt, who set up Lucas for a thumping finish.

With neither side able to find the back of the net again, the spoils were shared with the return leg in a week’s time set to be a blockbuster.