AFC Champions League: Al-Shabab (of Saudi Arabia), Al-Ahli Advance To Knockout Stage; FC Bunyodkor Atop Group G Standings; Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Al-Nasr Eliminated

Eight games were played in the group stage of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday.

Group A:

At Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:

Martins Adriano's equalizer in the 33rd minute lifted El Jaish to a 1-1 road draw with Al-Jazira.  Sultan Bargash scored at 25 minutes for the hosts.

At Tabriz, Iran:

Sebastian Tagliabue scored the game's lone goal in the 84th minute, leading Al-Shabab to a 1-0 road win over Tractor Sazi and a berth in the knockout stage.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. x-Al-Shabab (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
2.    El Jaish (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
3.    Tractor Sazi FC (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
4.    Al-Jazira (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 2)

x-Clinched berth in the knockout stage



Group C:

At Doha, Qatar:

Lawrence Quaye (9'), Nene (55'), and Fahad Al-Shammari (79') each delivered a goal as Al-Gharafa defeated visiting Al-Nasr 3-1, eliminating the Emirates club from the tournament.

At Buraidah, Saudi Arabia:

Mustafa Al-Bassas scored twice (44', 50') as Al-Ahli locked up a berth in the knockout stage with a 4-1 dominating of visiting Sepahan, putting the Iranian club on the cusp of elimination.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. x-Al-Ahli (GP: 4; GD: +8; PTS: 12) 
2.    Al-Gharafa (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
3.    Sepahan Isfahan FC (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 3)
4. z-Al-Nasr (GP: 4; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in the knockout stage

z-Eliminated from tournament


Group E:

At Sendai, Japan:

Atsushi Yanagisawa scored the only goal of the match in the 16th minute as Vegalta Sendai knocked off visiting FC Seoul 1-0.

At Buriram, Thailand:

Suchao Nuchnum (39') and Charyl Chappius (63') each scored a goal as Buriram United defeated visiting Jiangsu Sainty 2-0.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. FC Seoul (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2. Buriram United (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
3. Vegalta Sendai (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
4. Jiangsu Sainty (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 4)



Group G:

At Pohang, South Korea:

Hwang Jin-Sung's equalizer in the 67th minute enabled Pohang Steelers to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.  Naoki Ishihara scored in the 62nd minute for the hosts who have now been eliminated from the tournament.

At Beijing, China:

Fozil Musaev scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute as FC Bunyodkor defeated Beijing Guoan 1-0 on the road as the Uzbekistani club found themselves atop the Group G standings with two games remaining.

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1.    FC Bunyodkor (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
2.    Pohang Steelers (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
3.    Beijing Guoan (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5
4. z-Sanfrecce Hiroshima (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

z-Eliminated from tournament