AFC Champions League: Group Stage Starts

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

Group A:

At Tabriz, Iran:

Javad Kazemian scored what proved to be the winning goal in the 60th minute as Tractor Sazi FC defeated visiting Al-Jazira 3-1.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Omar Al-Ghamdi scored both goals (33', 39') in Al-Shabab's 2-0 home win over El Jaish from Qatar.

GROUP A STADINGS:

1. Tractor Sazi FC (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Al-Shabab (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Jazira (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)
4. El Jaish (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

Group B:

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

Temurkhodja Abdukholigov scored the only goal in the 73rd minute as Pakhtakor defeated visiting Al-Ettifaq 1-0.

At Doha, Qatar:

Youssef Msakni scored the winning goal in the 33rd minute as Lekhwiya topped visiting Al-Shabab Al-Arabi from the United Arab Emirates 2-1.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Likhwiya (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. FC Pakhtakor Tashkent (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Shabab Al-Arabi (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Al-Ettifaq (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

Group E:

At Sendai, Japan:

Osmar Barba scored the equalizer in the 77th minute as Burinam United from Thailand gained a 1-1 road deadlock with Vegalta Sendai.  Ryang Yong-Gi converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute for the hosts.

At Seoul, South Korea:

Dejan Damjanovic (9', 65') and Yun Il-Lok (33', 60') each delivered a double, each scoring once in each half, as FC Seoul delivered an old-fashioned frontier-styled fistbeating to visiting Jiangsu Sainty 5-1.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. FC Seoul (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
2. Burinam United (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Vegalta Sendai (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Jaingsu Sainty (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)

Group F:

At Guangzhou, China:

Lucas Barrios (16'), Muriqui (65'), and Keita Suzuki (OG-90'+1) provided the scoring as Guangzhou Evergrande dominated visiting Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0.

At Nonthaburi, Thailand:

Mario Gjurovski (PK-45') and Kim Yoo-Jin (89') each scored once as Muangthong United settled for a 2-2 home draw with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.  Lee Dong-Gook (6') and Kevin Oris (78') each scored a goal for the visiting South Korean club.

GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. Guangzhou Evergrande (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Muangthong United (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Urawa Red Diamonds (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)