Japanese Clubs Advance

Group stage play in the AFC Champions League resumed Tuesday.

Group B:

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Nasser Al-Shamrani's hat trick (43', 46', 60') combined with Abdulaziz Saran's double (16', 65') to power Al-Shabab to a 5-0 home horsewhipping of Sharjah FC, eliminating the club from the Emirates from contention for a knockout-stage berth.

At Doha, Qatar:

Aroujo's hat trick (43', 45'+2, 81') was just part of an offensive barrage that carried Al-Gharafa to a 5-1 home beatdown of Persepolis FC.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Al-Shabab (GP: 4; GD: +9; PTS: 10)
2. Persepolis FC (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
4. Sharjah FC# (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

#Eliminated from contention for a knockout stage berth

Group D:

At Esfahan, Iran:

Timur Kapadze scored the only goal of the match (19') as FC Bunyodkor defeated hosts Sepahan FC 1-0.

At Dubai, UAE:

Prince Tagoe played like a King as his triple (30', 54', 84') helped visiting Al-Ettifaq hammered Al-Shabab Al-Arabi 4-1.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ettifaq (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
2. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3. Sepahan FC (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4. Al-Shabab Al-Arabi (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 3)

Group F:

At Palembang, Indonesia:

Leandro (29'), Hayato Sasaki (45'+0), and Cho Jae-Lin (75') each scored once as Gamba Osaka locked up a berth in the knockout stage with a 3-0 road win over Sriwijaya FC, eliminating the Indonesian club from contention.

At Seoul, South Korea:

Alejandro Cichero's equalizer (79') enabled Shandong Luneng to keep control of second place in Group F as they held hosts FC Seoul to a 1-1 draw. Park Yong-Ho scored the hosts' lone goal at 24 minutes.

GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. Gamba Osaka* (GP: 4; GD: +13; PTS: 12)
2. Shandong Luneng (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
3. FC Seoul (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 4)
4. Sriwijaya FC# (GP: 4; GD: -15; PTS: 0)

*Clinched berth in knockout stage
#Eliminated from contention for knockout stage berth

Group H:

At Kawasaki, Japan:

Juninho (45') and Renatinho (80') each tallied once as Kawasaki Frontale clinched a spot in the knockout stage with a 2-1 home win over Central Coast Mariners FC.

At Tianjin, China:

Pohang Steelers held hosts Tianjin Teda FC to a 0-0 stalemate.

GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Kawasaki Frontale* (GP: 4; GD: +7; PTS: 10)
2. Pohang Steelers (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3. Tianjin Teda FC (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 2)
4. Central Coast Mariners (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 2)

*Clinched berth in knockout stage