AFC Champions League: Group-Stage Play Opens

Four games were played on Monday as group-stage play in the AFC Champions League commenced.

Group A:

At Buraidah, Saudi Arabia:

Talal Al-Absi scored the only goal of the match in the 67th minute as Al-Taawoun defeated visiting Lokomotiv Tashkent 1-0.

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

Al-Ahli, with Makhete Diop scoring twice (45'+1, 90') defeated visiting Esteghlal 2-1.  

Group A Standings:

1. Al-Ahli (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Al-Taawoun (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Esteghlal (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Lokomotiv Tashkent (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)



GROUP B:

At Muscat, Oman:

In a match played in Oman due to deteriorating relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Abolfazi Alaei scored the game's lone goal in the 80th minute as Iran's Esteghlal Khuzestan defeated the Saudis' Al-Fateh 1-0.

At Doha, Qatar:

Youssef Al-Arabi scored twice (11', 90') in Lekhwiya's 2-1 home win over Al-Jazira.

Group B Standings:

1. Lekhwiya (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Esteghlal Khuzestan (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Fateh (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Al-Jazira (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)