AFC Champions League

Eight games were contested on Tuesday as the final week of group-stage play in the AFC Champions League commenced.

GROUP C:

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

Sukhrob Berdyev (13'), Temur Talipov (24'), and Jaloliddin Masharipov (81') each scored a goal as Pakhtakor Tashkent blanked visiting Al-Jazira 3-0.

At Muscat, Oman (due to deteriorating relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia):

Ailton Almeida scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute as Al-Hilal knocked off Tractor Sazi 2-1 and seized a berth in the knockout stage.

Final Group C Standings:

1. Tractor Sazi FC (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 12)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 11)
3. Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)
4. Al-Jazira (GP: 6; GD: -11; PTS: 1)

Tractor Sazi of Iran and Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal advanced to the knockout stage.



GROUP D:

At Al Ain, United Arab Emirates:

Danilo Moreno Asprilla (39') and Mohamed Ismail Ahmed Ismail (90') each scored a goal as Al-Ain blanked visiting Nasaf Qarshi 2-0 and clinched a berth in the knockout stage.

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

Marquinho (62') and Osama Hawsawi (85') produced the goals that enabled Al-Ahli to blank visiting El Jaish 2-0.

Final Group D Standings:

1. El Jaish (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 10)
2. Al-Ain (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Ahli Saudi FC (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
4. Nasaf Qarshi (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 5)

El Jaish and Al-Ain advanced to the knockout stage.  El Jaish won both games against Al-Ain by a 4-2 aggregate score.



GROUP G:

At Melbourne, Australia:

Archie Thompson scored the winning goal in the 17th minute as the Melbourne Victory clinched a berth in the knockout stage following their 2-1 home victory over Gamba Osaka.

At Suwon, South Korea:

Kim Gun-hee scored twice (PK-7', 54') as Suwon Samsung Bluewings blanked visiting Shanghai SIPG 3-0.  Despite the victory, due to the fact that they surrendered a road goal in their home contest with the Melbourne Victory (the match in Australia ended in a scoreless draw), the South Korean club was eliminated from the tournament.

Final Group G Standings:

1. Shanghai SIPG (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 12)
2. Melbourne Victory (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 9)
3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
4. Gamba Osaka (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS; 2)

Shanghai SIPG and the Melbourne Victory (with the total aggregate score at 1-1 in their two games against Suwon Samsung Bluewings, their one goal was on the road in their one game in South Korea) advanced to the knockout stage.



GROUP H:

At Guangzhou, China:

Gao Lin scored the only goal of the match in the second minute as Guangzhou Evergrande defeated visiting Sydney FC 1-0 in their tournament finale.

At Saitama, Japan:

Zlatan Ljubljankic's successful penalty kick in the 87th minute lifted Urawa Red Diamonds to a 1-1 home draw with Pohang Steelers------and a berth in the knockout stage.

Group H Standings:

1. Sydney FC (GP: 6; GD: 0; PTS: 10)
2. Urawa Red Diamonds (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
3. Guangzhou Evergrande (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. Pohang Steelers (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 5)

Sydney FC and Urawa Red Diamonds advanced to the knockout stage.