AFC CL: Gamba Osaka, Al-Hilal Advance To Knockout Stage

Group stage play in the AFC Champions League concluded with eight games played on Wednesday.


Group A:


At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:


Ibrahima Toure scored twice (61', 71') as Sepahan dominated Al-Jazira 4-1 on the road.


At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Yasser Al Qahtani (46') and Ahmed Al Fraidi (83') each scored a goal as Al-Hilal blanked visiting Al-Gharafa 2-0 to lock up a berth in the Round of 16.


FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Sepahan Esfahan FC (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 13)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 13)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Jazira (GP: 6; GD: -13; PTS: 1)

Sepahan and Al-Hilal advanced to the knockout stage.


Group B:


At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:


Majdi Siddiq's stoppage-time equalizer (90'+3) lifted Al-Sadd to a 1-1 road draw with Pakhtakor.  Stanislav Andreev scored at 60 minutes for the hosts.


At Tehran, Iran:


Farhad Majidi (62') and Hawar Mulla Mohammed (89') each tallied once as Esteghlal came from behind to nip visiting Al-Nassr 2-1.  The win was not enough for the Iranian club to advance to the knockout stage, however.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Al-Sadd (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
2. Al-Nassr (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
3. Esteghlal Tehran FC (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. FC Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 5)

Al-Sadd and Al-Nassr advanced to the knockout stage. 

Group E:

At Suita, Japan:

Yasuhito Endo (74') and Takashi Usami (PK-90'+4) provided the scoring as Gamba Osaka not only clinched a berth in the knockout stage, but also won Group E with a 2-0 home win over visiting Tianjin Teda.  The Chinese club had already locked up a berth in the Sweet Sixteen.

At Jeju, South Korea:

Diogo Ferreira's equalizer at 61 minutes lifted Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 road draw with Jeju United (Kim Eun-Jung scoring at 25 minutes).  With Gamba Osaka's win, both clubs were eliminated from the tournament.

FINAL GROUP E STANDINGS:

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

Gamba Osaka and Tianjin Teda advanced to the knockout stage.

Group F:

At Hangzhou, China:

Zeng Yue's late equalizer (90'+2) salvaged a 1-1 draw for Hangzhou Greentown with visiting FC Seoul.  With the draw, the visiting South Korean club still locked up top spot in Group F.  Bang Seung-Hwan scored at 66 minutes for the guests.

At Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates:

Elias Ribeiro de Oliveira scored twice (39', PK-50') as Al-Ain wrapped up their Champions League with a 3-1 home win over Nagoya Grampus, preventing the Japanese club (already bound for the knockout stage) from winning the Group F crown.

FINAL GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. FC Seoul (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 11)
2. Nagoya Grampus (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Ain (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 7)
4. Hangzhou Greentown (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 5)

FC Seoul and Nagoya Grampus advanced to the knockout stage.