The Jordanian club had a foot in the knockout stage of the competition after their 7-0 demolition of Mohammedan at home last week and did not have to display their real strength in the return-leg match to emerge Group C champions with maximum six points.

The group was whittled down to two teams after the disqualification of Yemen's Al Hilal and Oman's Dhofar due to late registration of players.

Mohammedan, after a meek surrender in the Amman nightmare, showed some resistance in their home match and reduced the arrears through a late penalty by Nigerian striker Paul Nwachkwu.

The home side rushed early blood but they never looked like the team to win 8-0 and qualify. Veteran striker Alfaz sliced through the two centre-backs with a long through by Belal in the fifth minute but the captain lost control with only the rival goalkeeper to beat.

Wihdat rested a few key players like Hasan Abdul Fattah and Rafat Ali, who had scored a brace each in the previous encounter, but took control with superior physique and crisp passes. However, Issa Alsapah and Shelbaieh missed a number of chances after they won numerous corners.

Mohammedan coach Shafiqul Islam Manik's decision to choose guest player Belal as leftback proved wrong as the visitors poured down the flank. And Belal's long throw-ins, although testing the nerve of Al Wihdat keeper Wesam Ihzain, failed to bear fruit.

The Black and Whites, however, could have taken the lead in the first-half stoppage time but Nigerian striker Paul Nwachkwu's close-range shot on a quick counter attack was parried by Ihzain.

The visitors strengthen their midfield bringing in Rafat in the second half and enjoyed superior ball possession. The pressure told on the hour when Shelbaieh, fresh from his hattrick last week, fired a curling shot into the far post after three rival defenders failed to clear Alsapah's low cross from the right.

Shelbaieh doubled the lead three minutes later with a glancing header on midfielder Alsapah's corner also from the right for his fifth goal in two games. He came close to complete another treble but Mohammedan custodian Biplab's legworks at the near post foiled a close-range effort in the 78th minute.

Mohammedan pulled one goal back through Paul, who drilled in a spotkick six minutes from time after Al Wihdat defender Bilal Ismail felled Divine Chibuike in the penalty area.

"The heat and humidity was a big problem for us. So we decided to go slow from the beginning. But in the end, we served our purpose of winning the game," said Al Wihdat assistant coach Bassem Tayem after the match.

"We created many chances but I am satisfied with the win. I think Mohammedan played better than the last match. Now we focus on preparing for stronger teams in the last eight," he added.

Mohammedan coach Manik claimed the slim defeat gave him some relief after a massive loss in Amman.

"We tried to utilise our home condition and the result is satisfactory. I think the opposition struggled in this weather but they had a clear idea what they needed to do to win. They did not give 100 percent," admitted Manik. "They brought Rafat, their best player, from the bench after the break. And he was inspirational in the second half.

"We also got a few chances from counter attacks but so did they. They also built their attacks from the half-line and they were quicker than us. This made the difference."