AFC Champions League: Al-Jazira, Lekhwiya, Sepahan, Guangzhou Evergrande, Buriram United Take Group-Stage Openers

Nine games were played on Wednesday as the opening week of AFC Champions League group-stage action came to a close.

Group A:

At Qarshi, Uzbekistan:

In a match postponed from Tuesday, Juma Abdullah (39'), Abdulla Mousa (68'), Jader Bare (75'), and Ricardo Oliveira (88') each scored a goal as Al-Jazira erased a two-goal deficit and overtook Nasaf Qarshi 4-2 on the road.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Al-Jazira (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Esteghlal (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Rayyan (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Nasar Qarshi (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

Group C:

At Isfahan, Iran:

Bruno (Don't Call Me Chick) Correa scored the only goal of the match in the 84th minute as Sepahan defeated visiting Al-Nasr 1-0.

At Doha, Qatar:

Nam Tee-Hee scored the lone goal of the match at 74 minutes as Lekhwiya SC defeated visiting Al-Ahli 1-0.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Sepahan (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Lekhwiya SC (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Ahli (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Al-Nasr (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

Group D:

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

The match between Al-Shabab and visiting Al-Gharafa ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Mohammad Al-Shalhoub's equalizer the 53rd minute enabled Al-Hilal to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Persepolis.  Ali Karimi successfully converted a penalty kick for the visiting Iranian club in the 42nd minute.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Persepolis FC (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
    Al-Hilal (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
     Al-Shabab (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)

Group G:

At Nagoya, Japan:

Heverton Duraes Coutinho Alves scored twice (47', 90'+3) Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma gained a 2-2 road draw with Nagoya Grampus.  Joshua Kennedy (PK-58') and Mu Kanazaki (74') each scored once for the hosts.

At Tianjin, China:

The Central Coast Mariners held home-standing Tianjin Teda to a 0-0 stalemate.

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
    Nagoya Grampus (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Tianjin Teda FC (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
     Central Coast Mariners (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 0)

Group H:

At Jeonju, South Korea:

Cleo (27', 69') and Dario Conca (41', 73') each scored twice Guangzhou Evergrande blasted Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5-1 on the road.

At Buriram, Thailand:

Jirawat Makarom scored twice (10', 77') as Buriram United defeated visiting Kashiwa Reysol 3-2.

GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Guangzhou Evergrande FC (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
2. Buriram United FC (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Kashiwa Reysol (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)