AFC Champions League: Esteghlal, Pohang Steelers, FC Tokyo, Adelaide United Take Group-Stage Openers

Group-stage play in the AFC Champions League commenced on Tuesday with seven games.

Group A:

At Al-Rayyan, Qatar:

Goran Jerkovic scored the only goal of the match in second-half stoppage time (90'+1) as Esteghlal defeated Al-Rayyan 1-0 on the road.

Group B:

At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:

Yousif Jaber (PK-44') and Francisco Yeste (77') provided the scoring as Bani Yas blanked visiting Al-Arabi 2-0.

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

Mohamed Abosaban scored twice (29', 52') as Al Ittihad demolished visiting Pakhtakor Tashkent 4-0.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Al Ittihad (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
2. Bani Yas (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Arabi (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)
4. Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

At Osaka, Japan:

Kim Tae-Su (19'), Zoran Rendulic (22'), and Derek Asamoah (76') each scored a goal as Pohang Steelers belted Gamba Osaka 3-0 on the road.

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

Nigel Boogaard (13') and Antony Golec (53') each tallied once as Adelaide United knocked off FC Bunyodkor 2-1 on the road.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. Pohang Steelers (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Adelaide United (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Gamba Osaka (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

Group F:

At Brisbane, Australia:

Tatsuya Yazawa (45'+1) and Aria Hasegawa (55') each delivered a goal as FC Tokyo knocked off the Brisbane Roar 2-0 on the road.

At Ulsan, South Korea:

Kim Shin-Wook (25') and Go Seul-Ki (35') each tallied once as Ulsan Hyundai FC defeated visiting Beijing Guoan 2-1.

GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. FC Tokyo (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Ulsan Hyundai FC (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Beijing Guoan (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Brisbane Roar (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)