AFC Champions League: Group Stage Play Commences

Group stage play in the AFC Champions League began Tuesday with eight games.

Group A:

At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:

Otmane El Assas (16') and Younis Mahmoud (53') each scored a goal as Al-Gharafa SC (Qatar) defeated Al-Jazira 2-1 on the road.

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

Farhad Majdi scored twice (12', 76') as Esteghlal FC (Iran) defeated Al-Ahli 2-1 on the road.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Esteghlal FC (Iran) (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
Al-Gharafa SC (Qatar) (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
Al-Jazira (UAE) (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

Group B:

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

FC Bunyodkor started their group stage campaign with a 3-0 home beatdown of Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad. Rivaldo (3'), Jasur Hasanov (21'), and Denilson (66') each scored once for the hosts.

At Isfahan, Iran:

Igor scored the only goal of the match at 60 minutes as FC Zob Ahan defeated visiting Al-Wahda FC (UAE) 1-0.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. FC Bunyodkor (Uzbekistan) (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. FC Zob Ahan (Iran) (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Wahda FC (UAE) (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

Group E:

At Seongnam, South Korea:

Mauricio Molina (35') and Dzenan Radoncic (78') each tallied once as Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma defeated visiting Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) 2-0.

At Beijing, China:

Joel Griffiths scored the only goal of the match at 52 minutes as Beijing Guoan defeated visiting Melbourne Victory (Australia) 1-0.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (South Korea) (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Beijing Guoan (China) (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Melbourne Victory (Australia) (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Kawasaki Frontale (Japan) (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

Group F:

At Jakarta, Indonesia:

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) got their group stage campaign to a rousing start with a 4-1 road domination of Persipura Jakarta.

At Kishima, Japan:

Koji Nakata's goal at 42 minutes proved to be all the scoring as Kashima Antlers defeated visiting Changchun Yatal (China) 1-0.

GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (South Korea) (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Kashima Antlers (Japan) (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Changchun Yatal (China) (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Persipura Jakarta (Indonesia) (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)