Saudi Pro league champions Al Ittihad battled back from one goal down to beat Iraq Stars League counterparts Al Shorta 4-1 in Baghdad on Monday, picking up their first win in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite after two straight losses.

The home side scored first, finding the net off a corner kick five minutes into the match. Mehdi Ashabi's headed a pass toward the far post that Bassam Shakir converted from close range.

But Al Shorta's lead lasted just 12 minutes. Mahamadou Doumbia took possession near the edge of the box and picked out Moussa Diaby, who nodded in the equalizer.

The Saudi heavyweights took control in the 29th minute, when Fabinho fired a long-range free kick into the bottom right corner, putting the visitors ahead 2-1.

Al Ittihad had to play with 10 men, starting five minutes into the second half. Danilo Pereira lunged to cut off Dominique Mendy, but committed a bad foul in the process, earning himself a second yellow card and unwanted sending off.

But the visitors continued to dominate. Moussa Diaby burst into the box and drew in most of the Iraqi side's defenders, setting up a wide open goal for Houssem Aouar in the 60th minute.

The two linked up again in similar fashion 16 minutes later, with a well-worked fastbreak strike sealing a 4-1 win, leaving their side sitting seventh in the West Region.

In another contest, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli cruised past Qatar's Al Gharafa 4-0 at home. Enzo Millot opened the scoring for the hosts in the 32nd minute, before Franck Kessie found the net twice in three minutes to triple their lead going into halftime.

In the 76th minute, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat added the fourth goal as Al Ahli clinched their second win in the AFC Champions League Elite, remaining on top of the West Region standings with seven points.