Sharjah only had to wait till the second minute to have a glimpse at goal with Luanzinho drilling his long-range effort just wide off the left post after being teed-up by Caio Lucas at the top of the box, while Ousmane Camara saw his effort from a similar position whisk over the bar.

Al Hussein missed a chance to go ahead in the 20th minute when Mohammad Abu Zraiq’s long-range shot deflected off Maro Katinic. The ball fell to Adham Al Quraishi, who delivered a dangerous cross for Mahmoud Al Mardi, who failed to connect with his head. 

Al Hussein should have done better in the 37th minute when Abdou Aziz Ndiaye pounced on Shahin Abdulrahman’s mistimed pass to set up Abu Zraiq, only for the midfielder to hit a tame effort into the clutches of Sharjah keeper Adel Al  Hosani.

Al Hussein’s wastefulness came back to haunt them five minutes later when Camara evaded his marker with a surging run into the box before cutting the ball into the path of the unmarked Caio Lucas to power home from close range.

Abu Zraiq squandered another chance a minute after the restart when he tried to weave his way inside the box but the Jordanian international finished tamely with his shot skirting off the right post.

Al Hussein tried to find their way back into the tie with Romaneli’s introduction for Abu Zraiq almost paying off in the 61st minute when Aziz Ndiaye teed up Yousef Abu Jalboush nicely, but the midfielder’s shot from distance was blocked.

Sharjah picked up the pace and could have doubled their advantage with Romaneli missing a headed attempt from a set-piece situation in the 72nd minute, while Camara was denied by the crossbar from distance following Caio Lucas’ set-up but it didn't matter as Sharjah took a valuable lead into the return leg.