AFC Champions League: Esteghlal And Al-Gharafa Reach Sweet Sixteen; Zob Ahan, Too

Matchday #5 in the group stage of the AFC Champions League concluded Wednesday with eight games.

Group A:

At Tehran, Iran:


Mehdi Seyed-Salehi (25') and Amir Sadeghi (44') provided the goals as Esteghlal FC clinched a berth in the knockout stage with a 2-1 home win over Al-Ahli.

At Doha, Qatar:


Al-Gharafa, powered by Clemerson de Araujo Soares' hat trick (11', 41', 46),  defeated visiting Al-Jazira 4-2 and laid claim to a berth in the Round of 16.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Esteghlal FC* (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 11)
2. Al-Gharafa* (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Ahli# (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
4. Al-Jazira# (GP: 5; GD: -9; PTS: 1)


*Advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League


#Eliminated from tournament



Group B:

At Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:


Al Wahda, despite already being eliminated from the tournament, defeated visiting (and group-leading) FC Zob Ahan 1-0. Hasan Ameen scored the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute. Despite the loss, the Iranian club still locked up a berth in the knockout stage.


At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:


Al-Ittihad settled for a 1-1 home draw with  FC Bunyodkor.  Mohammed Moor's penalty kick at 38 minutes gave the hosts a 1-0 lead, but Anvarjon Soliev's equalizer at 62 minutes tied it up for the visiting Uzbekistani club.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. FC Zob Ahan* (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2. Al-Ittihad (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
3. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Wahda# (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 3)

*Advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League

#Eliminated
 

Group E:

At Kawasaki, Japan:

Kawasaki Frontale kept their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage alive with a 3-0 home win over Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.  Hiroyuki Taniguchi (4'), Yusuke Tasaki (21'), and Renatinho (PK-69') each tallied once for the hosts.

At Melbourne, Australia:

Beijing Guoun eliminated Melbourne Victory from the tournament while staying in second place in Group E themselves by holding the hosts to a 0-0 stalemate.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma* (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
2. Beijing Guoun (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3. Kawasaki Frontale (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
4. Melbourne Victory# (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS; 4)


*Advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League


#Eliminated


Group F:


At Changchun, China:


Shinzo Koroki scored the only goal of the match (37') as Kashima Antlers defeated Changchun Yatai 1-0 on the road.


At Jeonju, South Korea:


Eninho (13'. 57'), Seo Jung-Jin (60', 81'), and Luiz Henrique (82', 85') each doubled as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors destroyed visiting (and feckless) Persipura Jayapura 8-0.


GROUP F STANDINGS:


1. Kashima Antlers* (GP: 5; GD: +10; PTS: 15)
2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors* (GP: 5; GD: +12; PTS; 12)
3. Chungchun Yatai# (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 3)
4. Persipura Jayapura# (GP: 5; GD: -27; PTS: 0)


*Advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League


#Eliminated


COMMENT:  Why the hell are Persipura Jayapura still playing in the tournament??