AFC Champions League

Eigth games were played in the group stage of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

Group A:

At Tehran, Iran:

Mohammad Ghazi (17') and Hanif Ormanzadeh (65') each scored a goal as Esteghlal salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Al-Jazira.  Abdelaziz Barrada scored both goals (6', 56') for the visitors.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Rafinha (a.k.a. Rafael da Silva Francisco) scored twice in the second half (48', 56') as Al-Shabab came from behind to upend visiting Al-Rayyan 4-3.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Al-Jazira (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2. Al-Shabab (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. Al-Rayyan (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Esteghlal FC (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 1)



Group C:

At Doha, Qatar:

Sebastian Soria (22') and Nam Tae-Hee (PK-79') each scored a goal as Lekhwiya blanked visiting Al-Ittihad (who finished the match with ten men) 2-0.

At Al Ain, United Arab Emirates:

Asamoah Gyan scored twice (16', 74') as Al-Ain defeated visiting Tractor Sazi 3-1.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Al-Ain (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Lekhwiya (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Tractor Sazi FC (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 4)
4. Al-Ittihad (GP: 3; GD: -2; PTS: 3)



Group E:

At Osaka, Japan:

Takumi Nimamino scored twice (34', 83') as Cerezo Osaka demolished visiting Buriram United 4-0.

At Pohang, South Korea:

Kim Tae-Su (33') and Kim Seung-Dae (78') each scored a goal as Pohang Steelers--who had been reduced to ten men--came back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Shangdong Luneng Taishan.  Vagner Love converted two penalty kicks (14', 23') for the visiting Chinese club's goals.

GROUP E STANDINGS:

1. Shangdong Luneng Taishan FC (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
2. Pohang Steelers (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
3. Cerezo Osaka (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 4)
4. Buriram United (GP: 3; GD: -5; PTS: 1)



Group G:

At Melbourne, Australia:

Kosta Barbarouses scored the only goal of the match in the ninth minute as the Melbourne Victory defeated visiting Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0.

At Guangzhou, China:

Gao Lin scored twice in the first twenty minutes (17', 20') as Guangzhou Evergrande held off visiting Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-1.

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Guangzhou Evergrande FC (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. Melbourne Victory (GP: 3; GD: -1; PTS: 4)
4. Yokohama F. Marinos (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 1)