AFC Champions League

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

GROUP C:

At Tehran, Iran:

Tsukasa Shiotani's equalizer in the 85th minute carried Al-Ain to a 1-1 road draw with Esteghlal.

Farshid Bagheri scored in the 53rd minute for the hosts.

At Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

Ali Albulayhi scored the winning goal in the 75th minute as Al-Hilal downed visiting Al-Duhail 3-1.

Group C Standings:

1. Al-Hilal (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 6)
2. Al-Duhail (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Ail (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
4. Esteghlal (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Al-Ain scored a road goal in their 1-1 Tuesday draw with Esteghlal.



GROUP D:

At Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

Marat Bikmaev scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute as Pakhtakor defeated visiting Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia 1-0.

At Doha, Qatar:

Baghdad Bounedjah scored the only goal of the match in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time as Al-Sadd defeated visiting Persepolis 1-0.

Group D Standings:

1. Pakhtakor (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Al-Ahli (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Al-Sadd (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Persepolis (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Al-Ahli defeated visiting Al-Sadd 2-0 on March 5.



GROUP E:

At Jinan, China:

Graziano Pelle scored twice (PK-20, 41') as Shandong Luneng came back from down two goals to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Kashima Antlers.

Sho Ito scored both of the Japanese club's goals in the 10th and 14th minutes.

At Johor Bahru, Malaysia:

Diogo Luis Santo's equalizer in the 68th minute via a successfully-converted penalty kick lifted Johor Darul Ta'zim to a 1-1 home draw with Gyeongnam FC.

Kwak Tae-hwi scored for the South Korean club in the 52nd minute.

Group E Standings:

1. Kashima Antlers (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
2. Shandong Luneng (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
3. Gyeongnam FC (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 2)
4. Johor Darul Ta'zim (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)

NOTE:  Shandong Luneng scored two road goals in the 2-2 deadlock with Gyeongnam FC on March 5.



GROUP F:

At Hiroshima, Japan:

Daiki Watati scored the winning goal in the 86th minute as Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated the visiting Melbourne Victory 2-1.

At Daegu, South Korea:

Edgar Bruno da Silva scored twice (24', 43') as Daegu FC defeated visiting Guangzhou Evergrande 3-1.

Group F Standings:

1. Daegu FC (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. Guangzhou Evergrande (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
4. Melbourne Victory (GP: 2; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

NOTE:  Guangzhou Evergrande defeated Sanfrecce Hiroshima at home on March 5.