AFC Champions League: Al-Ahli, Sepahan Advance To Knockout Stage

Eight games were played on Tuesday in AFC Champions League group-stage action.

Group C:

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

Bruno Correa (44'), Xhevair Sukaj (69'), and Mehdi Salehi (77') provided the scoring as Sepahan dominated Al-Nasr 3-0 on the road to clinch a berth in the knockout stage while eliminating the hosts in the process.

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

Abdulrahim Jaizawi (8'), Victor Simoes (61'), and Taisir Al Jassim (90'+1) each delivered a goal as Al-Ahli dominated (and eliminated from the tournament) visiting Lekhwiya 3-0 to nail down a knockout-stage berth.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. x-Al-Ahli (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 10)
2. x-Sepahan (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. z-Lekhwiya (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. z-Al-Nasr (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 3)

x-Clinched berth in knockout stage
z-Eliminated from tournament

Group D:

At Tehran, Iran:

Youssef El-Arabi scored the only goal of the match in the 59th minute as Al-Hilal defeated Persepolis 1-0 on the road.

At Doha, Qatar:

Otmal El Assas provided the winning score with his penalty kick in the 84th minute, four minutes after his teammate Aruna Dindine had equalized, as Al-Gharafa defeated visiting Al-Shabab 2-1.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Al-Hilal (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
2. Persepolis (GP: 5; GD: +7; PTS: 8)
3. Al-Gharafa (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 6)
4. z-Al-Shabab (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 2)

z- Eliminated from tournament

Group G:

At Gosford, Australia:

Daniel McBreen scored twice (10', 20') as Central Coast Mariners stayed in the hunt for a berth in the knockout stage following their 5-1 home beatdown of Tianjin Teda, eliminating the Chinese club from the tournament.

At Seongnam, South Korea:

Park Jin-Ho's own goal in the 71st minutes lifted Nagoya Grampus to a 1-1 road draw with Seonghan Ilhwa Chunma with both clubs level at the top of Group G on points.  Han Sang-Woon scored in the 11th minute for the hosts.

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 7)
2. Nagoya Grampus (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. Central Coast Mariners (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
4. z-Tianjin Teda (GP: 5; GD: -7; PTS: 3)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group H:

At Kashiwa, Japan:

Leandro Domingues Barbosa scored the only goal of the match in the 24th minute as Kashiwa Reysol defeated Buriram United 1-0, placing the club from Thailand on the cusp of elimination from the tournament.

At Guangzhou, China:

Lee Dong-Gook scored two goals in second-half stoppage time (90'+1, PG-90'+3) as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors defeated Guangzhou Evergrande 3-1 on the road.

GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 9)
2. Guangzhou Evergrande (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. Kashiwa Reysol (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
4. Buriram United (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 6)