AFC Champions League: It's The Knockout Stage For Nagoya Grampus; Guangzhou Evergrande Too; Jeonbuk Motors Punked Out Of Tounament By Kashiwa Reysol (and Guangzhou Evergrande)

The final week of group-stage play in the AFC Champions League commenced with eight Tuesday contests.

Group C:

At Isfahan, Iran:

Xhevair Sukaj (19') and Moshen Bengar (85') provided the goals as Sepahan defeated visting Al-Ahli 2-1 to win Group C.  Both clubs will play in the knockout stage.

At Doha, Qatar:

Al-Nasr, with goals courtesy of Amara Diane (56') and Humaid Abdulla Abbas (58'),  wrapped up Champions League play with a 2-1 road win over Lekhwiya.

FINAL GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Sepahan Isfahan FC (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 13)
2. Al-Ahli (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. Al-Nasr (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 6)
4. Lekhwiya SC (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 6)

Sepahan Isfahan FC and Al-Ahli advanced to the knockout stage.

Group D:

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

Thanks to goals from Eamon Zayed (43'), Mehrdad Pooladi (53'), and Hossian Badamaki (90'), Persepolis came from behind to defeat Al-Shabab 3-1 on the road.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Ahmed Al Fraidi (48') and Nawaf Al Abid (65') each delivered a goal as Al-Hilal defeated visiting Al-Gharafa 2-1 to capture the Group D crown and eliminated the Qatari club.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 12)
2. Persepolis (GP: 6; GD: +9; PTS: 11)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Al-Shabab (GP: 6; GD: -9; PTS: 2)

At Hilal and Persepolis advanced to the knockout stage.

Group G:

At Nagoya, Japan:

Keiji Tamada (19'), Jungo Fujimoto (36'), and Marcus Tanaka (87') each scored once as Nagoya Grampus clinched a berth in the knockout stage by eliminating the visiting Central Coast Mariners 3-0.

At Tianjin, China:

Vladimir Jovancic  scored twice (48', PK-68') as Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma locked up the Group G crown with a 3-0 road dominatoin of Tianjin Teda.

FINAL GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 10)
2. Nagoya Grampus (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 10)
3. Central Coast Mariners (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 6)
4. Tianjin Teda (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 3)

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma and Nagoya Grampus advanced to the knockout stage.

Group H:

At Jeonju, South Korea:

Leandro Domingues (49') and Junya Tanaka (63') each tallied once as Kashiwa Reysol defeated  Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 on the road and knocked the South Korean club, who led the group heading into Tuesday, out of the tournament.

At Buriram, Thailand:

Dario Conca's penalty kick at 90 minutes turned out to be the game winner as Guangzhou Evergrande won top spot in Group H with their 2-1 road win over Buriram United.

FINAL GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Guangzhou Evergrande FC (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2. Kashiwa Reysol (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 9)
4. Buriram United (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)

Guangzhou Evergrande and Kashiwa Reysol advanced to the knockout stage.