AFC Champions League: Sepahan, Tianjin Teda, Nagoya Grampus, FC Seoul Punch Tickets For Knockout Stage

Match Day #5 in AFC Champions League group stage play concluded on Wednesday with seven games.


Group A:


At Isfahan, Iran:

Sepahan, thanks to Moharram Navidkia's equalizer at 56 minutes,  settled for a 1-1 home draw with Al-Hilal and clinched a berth in the knockout stage.  Abdullah Al Zori scored for the visitors at 46 minutes.


At Doha, Qatar:

Younis Mahmoud's hat trick (10', 62', 81') carried Al-Gharafa to a convincing 5-2 home win over already-eliminated Al-Jazira.


GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Sepahan Esfahan FC* (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 10)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 5 GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Jazira# (GP: 5; GD: -10; PTS: 1)

*Clinched berth in knockout stage
#Eliminated


Group B:


At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:


Bader Al-Mutwa scored twice (24', 65') as Al-Nassr found themselves on the cusp of advancing to the Round of 16 following their 4-0 home demolition of Pakhtakor Tashkent, eliminating the Uzbekistani club from the tournament.


GROUP B STANDINGS:


1. Al-Sadd* (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
2. Al-Nassr (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 8)
3. Esteghlal Tehran FC (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
4. Pakhtakor Tashkent FC# (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 4)


*Qualified for the knockout stage
#Eliminated


Group E:


At Melbourne, Australia:


Sota Nakazawa's equalizer at 43 minutes lifted Gamba Osaka to a 1-1 road draw with the Melbourne Victory as both clubs remained alive in the race for a berth in the knockout stage.  Adrian Leijer scored at 12 minutes for the hosts.


At Tianjin, China:


Luciano Olguin (8'), Wu Weian (21'), and Cao Yang (PK-72') each tallied once as Tianjin Teda clinched a knockout-stage berth with a 3-0 home domination of Jeju United.


GROUP E STANDINGS:


1. Tianjin Teda FC* (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2. Gamba Osaka (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
3. Jeju United (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 6)
4. Melbourne Victory (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 5)


Group F:


At Nagoya, Japan:


Jungo Fujimoto's penalty kick at 77 minutes provided all the scoring as Nagoya Grampus punched their ticket for the Round of 16 following their 1-0 home win over Hangzhou Greentown.


At Seoul, South Korea:


Dejan Damjonovic scored twice (39', 72') as FC Seoul locked up a berth in the knockout stage with a 3-0 home beat down of Al-Ain.


GROUP F STANDINGS:


1. Nagoya Grampus* (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 10)
2. FC Seoul* (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Ain# (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 4)
4. Hangzhou Greentown# (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 4)


*Clinched berth in knockout stage
#Eliminated