AFC Champions League: Group Stage Play Concludes

Group stage play in the AFC Champions League concluded Wednesday.

Group A:

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Al-Hilal, with goals from Mohammad Al-Anbar (37') and Ahmed Al-Swaileh (64'), blanked visiting Pakhtakor Tashkent to win Group A. Both clubs already locked up berths in the knockout stage.

At Dubai, UAE

With five different goal scorers tallying once apiece, Saba Battery FC outlasts hosts Al-Ahli 5-3.

FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 14)
2. Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 13)
3. Saba Battery FC (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 5)
4. Al-Ahli (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 1)

Al Hilal and Pakhtakor Tashkent advanced to the knockout stage.

Group B:

At Tehran, Iran:

Moshen Khalili scored the game's only goal (46') as Persepolis FC defeated visiting Al-Shabab 1-0 in a battle of knockout-stage-bound clubs.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Persepolis FC (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
2. Al-Shabab (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 3)

Persepolis FC and Al-Shabab advanced to the knockout stage.

Group E:

At Peking, China:

Gou Hui scored the equalizer at 81 minutes to enable Beijing Guoan to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Nagoya Grampus (whose Oribe Niikawa scored at 35 minutes).

At Ulsan, South Korea:

Jason Hoffman's goal at 36 minutes powered Newcastle United Jets into the knockout stage as the Australian club defeated Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 1-0 on the road to claim Group E's second knockout stage berth.

FINAL GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. Nagoya Grampus (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
2. Newcastle United Jets (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)
3. Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 6)
4. Beijing Guoan (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 5)

Nagoya Grampus and Newcastle United Jets advanced to the knockout stage.

Group F:

At Osaka, Japan:

Dejan Damjanovic (74') and Kim Han-Yoon (90'+1) provided the scoring that enabled FC Seoul to come from behind to post a 2-1 road win over Gamba Osaka and join the Japanese club in the knockout stage.

At Palembang, Indonesia:

Even though they had an otherwise abysmal showing in this year's Asian Champions League, Sriwijaya FC did not quit and they knocked off visiting Shandong Luneng 4-2 for their first win of the tounament and ruining any hope the Chinese club had of advancing to the round of 16. Zah Rahan Krangar doubled (73', 80') for the hosts, who erased a two-goal deficit.

FINAL GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. Gamba Osaka (GP: 6; GD: +13; PTS: 15)
2. FC Seoul (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. Shandong Luneng (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
4. Swijiyaya FC (GP: 6 ; GD: -17; PTS: 3)

Gamba Osaka and FC Seoul advanced to the knockout stage.

The round of 16 will consist of one-match sets (or one-legged ties).

The home clubs will be listed first.

West Asia, May 27:

Al-Hilal vs. Umm-Salal at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Persepolis FC vs. FC Bunyodkor at Tehran, Iran

Al-Ittihad vs. Al-Shabab at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Al-Ettifaq vs. Pakhtakor Tashkent at Dammam, Saudi Arabia

East Asia, June 24:

Nagoya Grampus vs. Suwon Bluewings at Nagoya, Japan

Gamba Osaka vs. Kawasaki Frontale at Suita, Japan

Kashima Antlers vs. FC Seoul at Kashima, Japan

Pohang Steelers vs. Newcastle United Jets at Pohang, South Korea

The winners of these matches would advance to the quarterfinal round.