AFC Champions League, MatchDay #6: Final Week Of Group Stage Play Commences

Tuesday marked the beginning of the final week of AFC Champions League group stage play.

Group C:

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

In a battle of the two clubs who already advanced to the first knockout round, Al-Ittihad won Group C with a 7-0 home billyclubbing of Umm-Salal.

At Dubai, UAE:

In the final Champions League contest for both clubs, Al-Jazira were held to a 2-2 home draw by Esteghlal FC. Ali Ahmed and Redha Al Jaberi scored for the hosts, while the visitors got goals from Ali Alizadeh and Hadi Shakouri.

FINAL GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ittihad (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 12)
2. Umm-Salal (GP: 6; GD: -7; PTS: 8)
3. Al-Jazira (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 5)
4. Esteghlal FC (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 4)

Al-Ittihad and Um-Salal advanced to the knockout stage.

Group D:

At Estafan, Iran:

With goals from Hossein Papi (2'), Hadi Asghari (52'), Hamid Azizzadeh (81'), Sepahan FC throttled Group D winners Al-Ettifaq 3-0 at home. The win, though, was not good enough for the Iranian club to advance beyond the group stage.

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

FC Bunyodkor, despite being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Al-Shabab Al-Arabi, still advanced to the knockout stage.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ettifaq (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 12)
2. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 8)
3. Sepahan FC (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Shabab Al-Arabi (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 7)

Al-Ettifaq and FC Bunyodkor advanced to the knockout stage.

Group G:

At Suwon, South Korea:

Suwon Bluewings, with goals from Bae Ki-Jong (5'), Lee Sang-Ho (45'), and Seo Dong-Hyun (PK-90;), tripled visiting Singapore Armed Forces FC 3-1. The South Korean club locked up a knockout stage berth.

At Shanghai, China:

Kashima Antlers locked up Group G with a 1-1 road draw against Shanghai Shenhua, thanks to Marquinhos' equalizer at 33 minutes.

FINAL GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Kashima Antlers (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 13)
2. Suwon Bluewings (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
3. Shanghai Shenhua (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. Singapore Armed Forces FC (GP: 6; GD: -15; PTS: 1)

Kashima Antlers and Suwon Bluewings advanced to the knockout stage.

Group H:

At Kawasaki, Japan:

In a matchup of the two Group H clubs who advanced to the knockout stage, Noh Byung-Joon (12') and Denilson (72') provided the goalpower that lifted Pohang Steelers to a 2-0 road win over Kawasaki Frontale to claim the Group H title for the South Korean club.

At Gosford, New South Wales, Australia:

Mao Biao scored the only goal of the match (64') as Tianjin Teda FC closed out Champions League play with a 1-0 road win over fellow eliminated club Central Coast Mariners.

FINAL GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Pohang Steelers (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
2. Kawasaki Frontale (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. Tianjin Teda FC (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. Central Coast Mariners (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 2)

Pohang Steelers and Kawasaki Frontale advanced to the knockout stage.


Group stage play concludes Wednesday.