AFC Champions League: Al-Ain't Gonna Make It To The Knockout Stage; Ditto Pohang Steelers; Beijing Guoan, Central Coast Mariners Advance To Round Of 16

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

Group C:

At Fuladshahr, Iran:

Amin Jahan Alian (11'), Mohammad Gholami (48'), and Mohammad Khalabari (55') each scored a goal as Sepahan defeated visiting Al-Gharafa 3-1.

At Buraiduh, Saudi Arabia:

Waleed Bakshwin (PK-7') and Taisir Al-Jassim (77') each scored a goal as Al-Ahli, who already locked up a berth in the knockout stage, salvaged a 1-1 home draw with Al-Nasr.  Leo Lima (PK-23') and Rashid Malullah (54') each scored a goal for the visitors, who picked up their first and last point of this tournament.

FINAL GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ahli (GP: 6; GD: +8; PTS: 14)
2. Al-Gharafa (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
3. Sepahan (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 9)
4. Al-Nasr (GP: 6; GD: -9; PTS: 1)

Al-Ahli and Al-Gharafa advanced to the knockout stage.

Group D:

At Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates:

Javad Nekounam scored the only goal of the match with his successul penalty kick in the 80th minute as Esteghlal locked up top spot in Group F after having defeated Al-Ain 1-0 on the road, eliminating the club from the Emirates from the tournament.

At  Al Rayyan, Qatar:

Nawaf Al Abed (78') and Saad Al-Harthi (83') each delivered a second-half goal five minutes apart as Al-Hilal, now bound for the knockout stage, defeated Al-Rayyan 2-0 on the road.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Esteghlal FC (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 13)
2. Al-Hilal (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 12)
3. Al-Ain (GP: 6; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Al-Rayyan (GP: 6; GD: -7; PTS: 4)

Esteghlal FC and Al-Hilal advanced to the knockout stage.

Group G:

At Hiroshima, Japan:

By holding hosts Sanfrecce Hiroshima to a 0-0 stalemate, along with the inability on the part of Pohang Steeler to defeat FC Bunyodkor at home, Beijing Guoan advanced to the knockout stage.

At Pohang, South Korea:

Oleksankr Pyschur scored in the 79th minute as FC Bunyodkor gained a 1-1 road draw with the Pohang Steelers.  Park Sung-Ho scored in second-half stoppage time (90'+3) for the hosts, who were still eliminated from the tournament.

FINAL GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. FC Bunyodkor (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)
2. Beijing Guoan (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
3. Pohang Steelers (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
4. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 3)

FC Bunyodkor and Beijing Guoan advanced to the knockout stage.

Group H:

At Gosford, New South Wales, Australia:

Despite being dominated 3-0 at home by Kashiwa Reysol, the Central Coast Mariner will join their Japanese guests in the knockout stage.  Masato Kudo (59'), Cleo (79'), and Leandro Domingues (85') each tallied once for the visitors.

At Guiyang, China:

Lee Jong-Min (35') and Kwon Ghang-Hoon (55') each delivered a goal as Suwon Samsung Bluewings prevented Guizhou Renhe from advancing to the knockout stage by holding the hosts to a 2-2 stalemate.  Sun Jihai (45') and Zhang Chenglin (86') each scored once for the Chinese Club.

FINAL GROUP H STANDINGS:

1. Kashiwa Reysol (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 14)
2. Central Coast Mariners (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 7)
3. Ghizhou Renhe (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
4. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 4)

Kashiwa Reysol and the Central Coast Mariners advanced to the knockout stage.