AFC Champions League

Group-stage play in the AFC Champions League continued on Tuesday with eight games.

GROUP A:

At Tabriz, Iran:

Tractor Sazi and visiting Al-Jazira battled to a 1-1 deadlock.

Farzad Hatami's equalizer in the 78th minute salvaged the home draw for the Iranian club, after Romarinho had scored for the guests at 44 minutes.

At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:

Momen Zakaria 's equalizer in the 58th minute enabled Al-Ahli to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Al-Gharafa.

Mehdi Taremi scored for the Qatari club in the 56th minute.

Group A Standings:

1. Al-Ahli (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 8)
2. Al-Jazira (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
3  Al-Gharafa (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 5)
4. Tractor Sazi (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 2)

NOTE:  Al-Jazira defeated Al-Gharafa 3-2 at home on February 12.



GROUP C:

At Doha, Qatar:

Xavi (3'), Abdelkarim Hassan (15'), Baghdad Bounedjah (43'), and Jugurtha Hamroun (71') each scored once as Al-Sadd made Nasaf Qarshi feeling sad by demolishing the visiting Uzbek club 4-0.

At Dubai, United Arab Emirates:

Kamaledin Kamyabinia scored the game's lone tally in minute #37 as Persepolis defeated Al-Wasl 1-0 on the road, knocking the hosts out of the tournament.

Group C Standings:

1.    Al-Sadd (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
2.    Persepolis (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
3.    Nasaf Qarshi (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 6)
4. z-Al-Wasl (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

NOTE:  Al-Sadd defeated Persepolis 3-1 at home on February 20.



GROUP F:

At Melbourne, Australia:

Kosta Barbarouses scored the only goal of the match in the 90th minute as the Melbourne Victory lived up to their name, having defeated visiting Kawasaki Frontale 1-0.

At Ulsan, South Korea:

Elkeson scored the only goal of the match in the 50th minute as Shanghai SIPG locked up a berth in the knockout stage by knocking off Ulsan Hyundai 1-0 on the road.

Group F Standings:

1. x-Shanghai SIPG (GP: 4: GD: +5; PTS: 10)
2.    Ulsan Hyundai (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
3.    Melbourne Victory (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 5)
4.    Kawasaki Frontale (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in knockout stage



GROUP H:

At Kashima, Japan:

Matt Simon's equalizer in the 70th minute lifted Sydney FC to a 1-1 road draw with Kashima Antlers.

Mu Kanazaki scored for the Japanese club in the 27th minute.

At Shanghai, China:

Dejan Damjanovic (51') and Choi Seong-guen (88') delivered the goals in Suwon Samsung Bluewings' 2-0 road blanking of Shanghai Shenhua.

Group H Standings:

1. Kashima Antlers (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 8)
2. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. Shanghai Shenhua (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 3)
4. Sydney FC (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 2)