AFC Champions League: Group-Stage Play Concludes As Bunyodkor Eliminate Pohang Steelers

Wednesday marked the conclusion of group-stage play in the AFC Champions League as eight games were contested.


Group A:


At Qarshi, Uzbekistan:


Goran Jerkovic (10') and Mojtaba Jabari (PK-50') each scored once as Esteghlal defeated Nasaf 2-0 on the road to lock up a berth in the knockout stage.


At Al-Rayyan, Qatar:


Ricardo Oliveira delivered a quadruple (8', 32', 66', 88') as Al-Jazira held off home-standing Al-Rayyan 4-3.


FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Al-Jazira (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 16)
2. Esteghlal (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 11)
3. Al-Rayyan (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Nasaf Qarshi (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 1)


Al-Jazira and Esteghlal advanced to the knockout stage.


Group B:


At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:


Andre Senghor (13') and Amer Al Hammadi (72') each scored once as Bani Yas defeated visiting Pakhtakor Tashkent 2-0 to claim the second Group B knockout-stage berth.


At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:


Abdelghani Faouzi scored the winning goal in second-half stoppage time (90'+4) as Al-Ittihad won Group B with their 3-2 home win over Al-Arabi.


FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:


1. Al-Ittihad (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 16)
2. Bani Yas (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 11)
3. FC Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 7)
4. Al-Arabi (GP: 6; GD: -12; PTS: 0)


Al-Ittihad and Bani Yas advanced to the knockout stage.


Group E:


At Osaka, Japan:


Sergio van Dijk (65') and Akihiro Sato (OG-87') each delivered a goal as Adelaide United won Group E by defeating Gamba Osaka 2-0 on the road.


At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:


Anvar Gafurov scored the only goal of the match in the 48th minute as FC Bunyodkor defeated visiting Pohang Steelers 1-0, enabling the hosts to climb above the South Korean club to finish second in Group E and advance to the knockout stage.


FINAL GROUP E STANDINGS:


1. Adelaide United (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 13)
2. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 6; GD: +1; PTS: 10)
3. Pohang Steelers (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
4. Gamba Osaka (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 3)


Adelaide United and FC Bunyodkor advanced to the knockout stage.


Group F:


At Brisbane, Australia:


In the tournament finale for both clubs, Hanbo's equalizer in the 34th minute as Beijing Guoan gained a 1-1 road draw with the Brisbane Roar.  Besart Berisha scored in the 15th minute for Queensland's lone remaining A-League club.


At Ulsan, South Korea:


In a battle of clubs already bound for the knockout stage, Kang Min-Soo scored the game's lone goal in the 37th minute as Ulsan Hyundai won Group F with a 1-0 home win over FC Tokyo.


FINAL GROUP F STANDINGS:


1. Ulsan Hyundai (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 14)
2. FC Tokyo (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 11)
3. Brisbane Roar (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 3)
4. Beijing Guoan (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 3)


Ulsan Hyundai and FC Tokyo advanced to the knockout stage.


The knockout stage begins next Tuesday.  Here are the match-ups for the one-match series with each home club listed first.


May 22:


Al-Jazira vs. Al-Ahli


Sepahan vs. Esteghlal


May 23:


Al-Ittihad vs. Persepolis 


Al-Hilal vs. Bani Yas


May 29:


Adelaide United vs. Nagoya Grampus


Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma vs. FC Bunyodkor


May 30:


Ulsan Hyundai vs. Kashiwa Reysol


Guangzhou Evergrande vs. FC Tokyo


The winners will advance to the quarterfinal round.