Gamba Osaka 0-2 Adelaide United

Sergio van Dijk came off the bench to score his first goal of the campaign as Australia’s Adelaide United beat Gamba Osaka 2-0 on Wednesday to win Group E and set-up a meeting with Nagoya Grampus in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League.
Van Dijk, making his fourth substitute appearance of the campaign, broke the deadlock at Expo ’70 Stadium five minutes after the hour mark before an own-goal from Gamba substitute Akihiro Sato with two minutes remaining ensured Adelaide completed the double over the side they lost to in the 2008 final.

With their third appearance in the last 16 already assured before kick-off against a Gamba side who had no chance of progressing, the win means Adelaide will entertain Group G runners-up Nagoya at Hindmarsh Stadium on May 29 for a place in the quarter-finals.

Just five minutes after coming off the bench in place of midfielder Fabian Barbiero, Van Dijk rounded off a flowing Adelaide move as the 2011 A-League Golden Boot winner met Daniel Mullen’s inviting front post cross and his first-time volley gave Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya little chance.

And Gamba’s disappointing campaign was summed up with two minutes remaining as substitute Sato could only divert a near post corner from Cassio (Cássio José de Abreu Oliveira) into his own net.

Bunyodkor 1-0 Pohang Steelers

Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor advanced to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for the fifth consecutive season ahead of former champions Pohang Steelers after Anvar Gafurov’s header at the start of the second half proved the difference between the two sides on Wednesday.

Bunyodkor knew they had to claim a third win of the campaign to overhaul Pohang’s two-point advantage in Group E and Gafurov’s 48th minute goal at Jar Stadium was enough to end the hopes of the three-time Asian champions.

And after securing a second-place finish behind Australia’s Adelaide United in Group E, Bunyodkor will face 2010 AFC Champions League winners Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in the one-off Round of 16 on May 29 after the K-League side won Group G with an unbeaten record.

With victory the only option, the home side made a bright start and were unlucky not to be ahead after 31 minutes as Bunyodkor captain Victor Karpenko rattled Shin Hwa-yong’s crossbar with a left-footed strike.

And four minutes before half-time Bunyodkor again beat Shin but not the woodwork as Kamoliddin Murzoev’s header from Akmal Shorakhmedov’s cross came back off the crossbar to leave the sides level at the break and Pohang on course for the last 16 for the third time in four years.

But just three minutes after the restart Bunyodkor finally found the crucial breakthrough as Shorakhmedov combined with Jan Kozak and the Slovak midfielder crossed for Gafurov to direct his header into the opposite corner.

Pohang stepped up the pressure in the second half in search of the goal to get themselves back into the contest and the last 16, but Bunyodkor’s rearguard stood firm.

GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) v ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) (0 – 2) (FT)
BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) (1 – 1) (FT)
ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) v FC TOKYO (JPN) (1 – 0) (FT)
BUNYODKOR (UZB) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR) (1 – 0) (FT)

NASAF (UZB) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN) (0 – 2) (FT)
AL RAYYAN (QAT) v AL JAZIRA (UAE) (3 – 4) (FT)
BANIYAS (UAE) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB) (2 – 0) (FT)
AL ITTIHAD (KSA) v AL ARABI (QAT) (3 – 2) (FT)

Adelaide United 0-0 Bunyodkor
Adelaide United qualified for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League for a third time in five years after sharing a goalless draw with Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor in Group E.

The 2008 finalists enjoyed the better chances and dominated possession at but failed to find a breakthrough against a Bunyodkor.

But with Pohang Steelers beating Gamba Osaka 2-0, Adelaide maintained their three-point lead over third-placed Bunyodkor to advance due to a better head-to-head record against the Uzbek side after posting a 2-1 win in Tashkent at the start of the campaign.

Neither side were able to impose themselves on a scrappy first half with Adelaide coming the closest to breaking the deadlock after 22 minutes as Iain Ramsay beat Bunyodkor goalkeeper Ignatiy Nestervov only to see his effort from Daniel Mullen’s chipped back post cross cleared off the line.

Adelaide dominated possession at the start of the second half but the Reds struggled to create a clear-cut chance until substitute Iain Fyfe headed straight at Nestervov six minutes after the hour mark.

Fyfe drew another save from Nestervov after 78 minutes as his dipping half volley from outside the area sent the Uzbekistan international sprawling across his goal.

Bunyodkor, though, could have snatched all three points inside the final two minutes but substitutes Alibobo Rakhmatullaev and Shavkat Salomov both failed to find the target from promising positions.

Pohang Steelers 2-0 Gamba Osaka
Former AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka have been eliminated from the 2012 Asian Champions League tournament following another loss, this time 2-0 at the hands of Pohang Steelers.

Kim gave Pohang the lead in first-half injury time after Zoran Rendulic had earlier seen his 28th minute penalty saved by Atsushi Kimura, who kept the spot-kick out with his feet, but Pohang took the lead when Kim pounced when Kimura parried Lee Myung-joo’s initial shot.

Gamba needed to win to keep their hopes in the tournament alive and should have pulled level early in the second half, only for Yasuhito Endo to stab his effort wide before Akihiro Sato saw his shot following a rapid break come back off the post.

Park Seong-ho thought he had sealed the win for Pohang when his shot beat Kimura, only for the ball to bounce down off the crossbar and onto the goal line before rolling to safety.

With 13 minutes to go, however, Pohang managed to wrap up the points as Asamoah unleashed an unstoppable swerving shot that gave Kimura little chance before finding the top corner to earn Hwang’s team a tilt at a place in the next round.

Adelaide United 1-0 Pohang Steelers

Australia’s Adelaide United scored in the final minutes of the game to move clear at the top of Group E of the AFC Champions League with a 1-0 win over Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers.

Whilst Adelaide had lost their first encounter two weeks ago in Korea, Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was at his best this time round with a superb save to push away No Byung-jun’s downward header in the early stages of the game.

With No’s header the only real chance of a tight opening 45 minutes, Pohang should have opened the scoring at the start of the second half but Romanian striker Ianis Zicu blazed over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy after Galekovic had saved from Ghanaian forward Derek Asamoah.

Pohang goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong was called into action for the first time soon after to deny Iain Ramsay, before Galekovic again saved from Asamoah as the Ghanaian fired goalwards from a tight angle.

Zenon Caravella sent a rising strike spearing narrowly wide for Adelaide midway through the second half with neither side able to assert a sustained period of dominance onto the contest.

Djite shot wide from a promising position on the edge of the area before heading over the crossbar in the closing stages.

But in the last minute Djite’s presence at the front post caused Rendulic to divert Cassio’s inviting near post cross across the face of goal and into the opposite corner with Shin rooted to the spot.

Bunyodkor 3-2 Gamba Osaka
Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor made its intentions clear in this year’s AFC Champions League with a convincing win over Japan’s Gamba Osaka in Group E.

Two quick goals within the first 14 minutes of the match from Gamba’s Shu Kurata and Bunyodkor’s Kamoliddin Murzoev’s had the game at 1 – 1.

Gamba were unlucky not to take the lead 10 minutes later as Takahiro Futagawa slid in at the back post only to see his strike come back off the crossbar before Hayato Sasaki clipped the outside of the post with Nesterov at full stretch.

Bunyodkor, though, regained the lead three minutes before the break as Turaev’s header from Emil Kenzhissariyev’s cross looped over scrambling Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya.

And with Gamba pressing forward looking for another equaliser following an open second 45 minutes, substitute Soliev raced clear of the Bunyodkor backline from just inside the visitors’ half and after charging into the penalty area to collect Karpenko’s lofted through ball, coolly rolled the ball past Fujigaya.

Terada’s header with the last touch of the game provided some consolation for Gamba, who face an uphill battle to reach the last 16 following a third defeat of the campaign.

Gamba Osaka 3-1 Bunyodkor
Following two losses, Gamba Osaka finally got itself some points, winning their first game with two penalties from Brazilian striker Rafinha and a third by former AFC Player of the Year Yasuhito Endo.

New coach, Matsunami who had already earned a draw in the J League match over the weekend was confident his changes would begin to show in terms of results. The home win over Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor was well deserved.

Captain Endo gave his side the lead after just 14 minutes before two goals in the second half from Rafinha (Rafael dos Santos de Oliveira) sealed the win as the Brazilian netted twice from the penalty spot after 58 and 82 minutes.

Anvarjon Soliev scored a late consolation goal in the 88th minute for Bunyodkor. The result leaves the Uzbekistan champions with a second defeat of the campaign.

With Pohang beating Adelaide 1-0 in Korea, Pohang and Adelaide are now tied at the top of the table with equal points and goal difference. Gamba and Bunyodkor are both three points off below them with three games left to complete the Group stage.

Pohang Steelers 1-0 Adelaide United
Adelaide fell 1 – 0 to Pohang Steelers in Korea following an uncharacteristic mistake from the Eugene Galekovic. Pohang’s second win now gives it equal points with Adelaide and a share of top position after three rounds in Group E of the AFC Champions League.

Adelaide United’s captain and goal keeper Eugene Galekovic had been the cornerstone of Adelaide’s wins over Bunyodkor and Gamba Osaka, which had lifted Adelaide three points clear at the top of the table.

The first half did not show much by way of clear cut chances either way on a chilly night in Korea. After the break, Pohang began to increase the pressure and Galekovic failed to hold onto a Hwang Jin-sung free kick in the 68th minute. Kim Dae-ho was in the right spot at the right time to pounce on the error from close range.

Galekovic was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half with saves from Ianis Zicu and Kim Tae-su. Adelaide where unfortunately dealt a cruel blow when star player Dario Vidosic was forced off just before half time with an apparent hamstring injury and replaced by Fabian Barbiero.

The second half saw Adelaide start the half with greater confidence, but as the half wore on Pohang started to find their rhythm and take control at home. This chance eventually resulted ian the only goal of them match eight minutes after the hour mark.

Hwang’s free-kick from the edge of the penalty area after Nigel Boogaard had fouled Go Moo-yul appeared to be heading out. Galekovic attempted to catch the ball (making sure) but mishandled it. The ball escaped the goalkeeper’s grasp and unfortunately the bounce took the ball away from Galekovic and towards the onrushing Kim, who took the chance to fire home from a tight angle.

Zicu failed to find the target with seven minutes remaining, but Adelaide were unable to find a response as Pohang claimed a deserved second three points of the campaign.

Adelaide United 2-0 Gamba Osaka
Daniel Mullen scored twice as Adelaide United earned their second win of the 2012 AFC Asian Champions League tournament beating Gamba Osaka 2-0 in Adelaide on Tuesday.

Mullen’s first-half headers ensured the 2008 AFC Champions League finalists followed up their impressive 2-1 win in Uzbekistan over Bunyodkor with another disciplined display.

Adelaide made a strong start and after the impressive Dario Vidosic was denied by Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya, the home side went one up after after just 17 minutes.

Mullen’s initial header rebounded off the crossbar, then Nigel Boogaard kept the chance alive although Fujigaya was given little chance as Mullen’s second header took a huge deflection.

Lee Seung-yeoul came close to an equaliser four minutes later but failed to find a way past Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic.

Adelaide then took full advantage midway through the first half as Fujigaya failed to hold onto Bruce Djite’s flicked header from Cassio’s free-kick and Mullen was on hand to net the second for Adelaide.

After playing a key role in Adelaide’s win in Bunyodkor two weeks ago, the impressive Galekovic denied Takuya Takei and Yasuhito Endo in the closing stages of the first half as Adelaide maintained their two to nil lead.

The second half should have delivered a stronger performance from Gamba, but this did not materialise, although Adelaide did look the most likely to score a third goal.

Pohang Steelers 0-2 Bunyodkor
Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor made a mends for their Match Day 1 loss at home with an impressive 2-0 win over Korean and AFC Champions League champions Pohang Steelers thanks to goals from Lutfulla Turaev and Kamoliddin Murzoev at the Steelyard.

Turaev, who won the AFC Cup with Nasaf last year, broke the put Bunyodkor 1 – 0 up with a great goal after 28 minutes before Murzoev sealed the win with 13 minutes remaining.

The visitors took the lead in spectacular fashion after 28 minutes as Turaev raced onto a lofted ball forward from Jan Kozak, and after letting the ball bounce once just outside the area, the midfielder rifled an unstoppable half-volley past the despairing dive of Shin Hwa-yong and into the bottom corner.

Pohang came close to an instant response as Shin Kwang-hoon headed against the crossbar before Bunyodkor’s Australia international midfielder David Carney drew a full-length diving save from Shin.

Bunyodkor mainly defended in the second half, and where able to seal the win with 13 minutes remaining. Carney played a seemingly hopeful ball forward down the left, but Murzoev first showed superb control to bring the ball down on his chest before holding off Kim Won-il to fire past Shin.

Gamba Osaka V Pohang Steelers (0 – 3)

Jose Carlos Serrao’s opening match as head coach of Gamba Osaka could not have started in worse fashion with the Gamba suffering a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Korea’s Pohang Steelers.

Pohang took the lead in the 19th minute when Shin Kwang-hoon sent in a superb cross on the run from the right hand side of the pitch connecting with Kim Tae-su ho headed home the opening goal.

A few minutes later, Gamba keeper Yosuke Fujigaya gifted Pohang a second goal. Fujigaya attempted to punch clear Hwang Jin-sung’s corner but his weak effort ricocheted off the head of Pohang’s Serbian defender Zoran Rendulic into the back of the net.

With 14 minutes left to play in the match, Pohang made it 3 – 0. Pohang’s Shin Hyung-min capitalised on a giveaway by the Gamba defence to send Derek Asamoah clear and the Ghanaian chipped the ball past Fujigaya to seal Gamba’s heaviest home defeat in the AFC Champions League.

Bunyodkor V Adelaide United (1 – 2)

Nigel Boogaard and Antony Golec scored and goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic produced a string of key saves as Australia’s Adelaide United stunned Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor with a 2-1 victory in their Group E opener at Jar Stadium on Tuesday.

In the first meeting between the two sides since Adelaide won their 2008 semi-final clash 3-1 on aggregate, the A-League side once again came out on top thanks to a goal in each half by Boogaard and Golec.

Galekovic, helped out some heroic Adelaide defending, then kept the home side at bay until Kamoliddin Murzoev struck a consolation for Bunyodkor in the fourth minute of stoppage time as the Reds joined Korea’s Republic’s Pohang Steelers at the top of Group E after the 2009 champions beat Gamba Osaka 3-0 in Japan.

The visitors went ahead after 12 minutes when Osama Malik flicked on Iain Ramsay’s corner for defender Boogard to head home from inside a crowded penalty area.

Bunyodkor enjoyed plenty of possession on a heavy pitch in the Uzbekistan capital, but the home side fell further behind after a devastating counter-attack by Adelaide eight minutes into the second half.

Dario Vidosic slipped a through ball from the halfway line to Golec, who laid the ball on for an unmarked Ramsay.

Bunyodkor’s Uzbekistan international goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov managed to keep out Ramsay’s initial effort, but Golec slid in to bundle the loose ball into the back of the net.

Galekovic made a series of fine saves to keep Bunyodkor at bay in the closing stages, but the Adelaide goalkeeper was finally beaten in stoppage time as Murzoev followed up after the Reds’ custodian had saved Victor Karpenko’s glancing header.

Tianjin Teda became the first team from Group E to qualify for the last 16 of the 2011 AFC Champions League thanks to a 3-0 win over Jeju United at Tianjin Teda Stadium on Wednesday.

Argentinian striker Luciano Olguin headed the hosts in front seven minutes in before Wu Weian doubled the advantage when he tucked home a rebound midway through the first-half.

Cao Yang converted a penalty 19 minutes before the final whistle to seal a comfortable victory for the runners-up of the Chinese Super League, though they were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when substitute Ma Leilei picked up a second yellow card.

It was the visitors who created the first effort of note when Santos cut into box before shooting wide.

Tianjin went on to dominate their Korean rivals with Chen Tao collected a pass from Zhang Xiaobin before striking a 20-yard drive that deflected off Kang Min-hyuk.

From the resulting corner, Olguin jumped higher than Hong Jung-ho to head Li Benjian’s corner past goalkeeper Kim Ho-jun.

The hosts made the most of another dead ball situation to extend the lead when Li Weifeng met Li Benjian’s corner and although Kim managed to parry his header, the ball fall at the feet of Wu who tapped in the rebound.

Santos spurned two good opportunities for Jeju after the break, coming close to a goal 10 minutes into the second-half with a superb volley that was palmed out by keeper Yang Qipeng before heading Bae Ki-jong’s inviting cross over the bar two minutes later.

Olguin came close to claiming his second goal of the game four minutes after the hour mark with a powerful header that flew over the bar.

Chen then earned a penalty for the hosts when, with just the Jeju keeper to beat, he rounded Kim but was brought down in the box. Cao made no mistake in firing the spot kick into the back of the net.

Jeju tried to launch a late onslaught but failed to create any real attacking threat. Substitute Ma was then sent-off in stoppage time when he received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Lee Sang-hyup.

Melbourne scored first through Adrian Leijer on 12 minutes but Sota Nakazawa, with his second goal of the campaign, leveled things just before half time.

Tellingly, both goals came from defenders as the result of corners in a match where both sides’ attackers wasted plenty of chances.

Melbourne began the match playing much of the attacking football and Carlos Hernandez provided the first threat, flashing a free kick past the goal in the third minute.

The Costa Rican continued to provide much of Melbourne’s impetus and he was involved heavily in the build-up to the first goal.

His 12th-minute free kick was turned away by keeper Yosuke Fujigaya setting up a corner which he took with aplomb.

His pin-point cross picked out Leijer, who rose well to head home and give the home side a deserved lead.

Soon after, Melbourne had a decent penalty shout turned down when Akira Kaji looked to have handled the ball under pressure from Isaka Cernak.

Shocked by the early barrage for the home side, Gamba were stung into action and only Leigh Broxham’s goal-line clearance prevented Takashi Usami from equalising with a cracking shot on 18 minutes.

From that point on the victors dominated for the rest of the half, controlling possession, creating plenty of corners but not conjuring quality chances.

Eventually the opportunity came on 43 minutes, when with their seventh corner, the ball was not cleared by the Victory defence.

Satoshi’s Yamaguchi’s shot hit the woodwork, but Nazakawa was quickest to react and turned the rebound into the net.

Melbourne regrouped early in the second half and inside the first 15 minutes had four good chances to re-establish their lead.

Skipper Muscat headed over, Danny Allsopp failed to connect to Cernak’s cross, Hernandez shot straight at Fujigaya before Archie Thompson’s shot was blocked by Nazakawa’s lunge.

Yasuhito Endo tested Tando Velaphi’s reflexes as Osaka looked to build their credentials for the three points, but that was a rare foray forward for the visitors.

Melbourne pushed hard for the winner, in Cernak’s case too hard as he was booked for simulation in the box.

It was one of many incisions into the attacking zone Melbourne made late in the match, but the only one to force a save was a scything shot from Hernandez which was brilliantly knocked away by Fujigaya.

Melbourne Victory 1 (Leijer 12′)
Gamba Osaka 1 (Nazakawa 43′)
Crowd: 7,437 at Etihad Stadium

Brazilian forward Adriano scored twice to highlight Gamba Osaka’s 3-1 win over Jeju United, helping the J.League side climb to second in Group E of the 2011 AFC Champions League at Expo ’70 Stadium in Osaka.

Adriano struck in the 26th and 48th minutes and although Jeju replied through Shin Yong-rok in the 67th minute, Gamba substitute Takuya Takei blasted home in the 88th minute.

Gamba tried to break down the Jeju backline with some slick passing and Lee connected with a Kim Seung-yong cross in the box in the 24th minute but the effort was saved by Kim Ho-jun.

The north Osaka team then took the upper hand in the 26th minute thanks to Adriano’s individual effort. The Brazilian collected a pass from the center of the park and brought the ball forward before shooting from the edge of the box. His effort was not all that powerful but hit the inside of the post on its way into the net.

Gamba improved their lot early in the second-half with their second goal. Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo delivered a pin-point ball to Adriano and the Brazilian forward beat his marker, cut into the box and fired home with his right foot in the 48th minute.

The visitors pulled a goal back, however, when Shin slotted home from inside the box with 23 minutes left on the clock.

Gamba then secured the game in the 88th minute with a third goal. Sasaki forged down the right and fed Lee Keun-ho. The Korean forward laid the ball off to Takei, who blasted home to wrap up the win.

Melbourne Victory resuscitated their 2011 AFC Champions League dreams with a 2-1 win over Group E leaders Tianjin Teda at Docklands Stadium.

The home side scored two goals in three minutes on the stroke of half-time to secure their first win in this season’s competition and provide interim coach Mehmet Durakovic his maiden success in charge, although Surat Sukha was sent-off with eight minutes to go.

It was a result Durakovic will look back on fondly after Victory trailed 1-0 following Chen Tao’s fantastic solo effort for the Chinese visitors after 37 minutes.

Just seven minutes later Victory dragged themselves back into the contest through Carlos Hernandez as the Costa Rican’s hopeful 35-yard free kick attempt turned into something more substantial when it evaded Tianjin goalkeeper Zhao Yanming and ended up in the net.

But much of the credit must go to Victory captain Adrian Leijer, whose run caused the Chinese stopper to hesitate at the crucial moment.

Less than 120 seconds later, Victory were in front after Kevin Muscat slotted home from the penalty spot for his third goal of the campaign.

Muscat was presented with the chance when the lively Robbie Kruse was blocked by visiting captain Cao Yang inside the box following Archie Thompson’s through ball.

It was redemption for Muscat, who was the guilty offender in the build-up to Tianjin Teda’s goal.

The experienced defender was dispossessed by Chen, who went on a mazy run before unleashing a shot past a despairing Tando Velaphi in the Victory goal.

While the second-half did not produce any goals, there was no shortage of entertainment.

Isaka Cernak spurned Victory’s best chance to kill off the Chinese visitors just four minutes into the second period.

Cernak was played in by a lovely Kruse cross but somehow blazed his shot over the top of an empty net when it seemed easier to score.

Tianjin had the better of the second-half opportunities, particularly late on as they enjoyed a man advantage following Surat’s 82nd minute dismissal for a second bookable offence.

But a combination of a resolute Victory defence and profligacy from Tianjin in attack meant Velaphi was only called onto make one quality save.

In all, nine yellow cards and the red for Surat were a reflection on how tensions flared throughout the 90 minutes.

There was further bad news for Melbourne when Australia international Kruse was stretchered off in the dying moments with a suspected knee injury.

While they remain bottom of Group E with four points, Victory trail leaders Tianjin by three points following Gamba Osaka’s win over Jeju United.

Tianjin Teda 1-1 Melbourne Victory
Tianjin Teda earned a 1 – 1 draw with Melbourne Victory to maintain top spot in Group E of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

Victory came close to a first goal just two minutes in when Adrian Leijer was just inches away from tapping home. Yu Dabao looked to reply three minutes later, only to see his fierce 30-yard shot fly over the crossbar.

In the 11th minute, Chen back-heeled to Wu Weian down the left and the latter clipped an inviting centre across the face of the goal, only to see an unmarked Yu volley over.

But Tianjin then went ahead eight minutes later. Li Weifeng headed Li Benjian’s corner straight at team-mate Yu but Zoric reacted quickly to head the rebound goalwards. Keeper Tando Velaphi parried the ball out only to see the Serbian nod it past him at the second attempt.

Zhang Xiaobin almost doubled the lead for the hosts six minutes before half-time, collecting Wu’s long cross before pulling the trigger from 15 yards with a powerful drive that hit the bar. Luciano Olguin steered the rebound over the frame of the goal.

The visitors then made the most of a corner kick 10 minutes into the second-half when Muscat leapt higher than Zoric to head Carlos Hernandez’ corner past keeper Yang Qipeng at the near post.

Melbourne continued to attack with Marco Rojas springing Tianjin’s offside trap. Rojas sidestepped Yang in the penalty area but Archie Thompson took over and unleashed a close-range shot that was intercepted by Li Weifang in front of the goalline.

Obiora Odita wasted a good chance to restore the lead for the hosts midway through the second-half, collecting a loose ball on the edge of the box before curling a left-footed attempt wide off the right post.

Zoric was then sent off a quarter of an hour before the final whistle for a reckless challenge on Hernandez.

The visitors were on top for the remainder of the game, hassling the Tianjin defenders but unable to find a way through their opponents’ rearguard.

Jeju United 2-1 Gamba Osaka
Jeju United won 2 – 1 against Gamba Osaka in their Group E clash of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

The Japanese team took the lead in the 22nd minute in simple fashion. A right-sided Endo corner was headed home from close range by Nakazawa, who was not picked up by the home defenders.

Three minutes later, Gamba came so close to extending the lead. Lee broke free, rounded the goalkeeper only to see his shot blocked by a desperate lunge from a Jeju defender. The loose ball fell to Adriano, who ballooned the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Just before the break, the Brazilian had another great chance to put Gamba further ahead. With the Jeju defenders appealing for offside, Adriano burst into the left side of the area to find himself with just the goalkeeper to beat but Kim blocked the initial shot and then also saved the follow-up shot from Tomokazu Myojin.

Jeju regrouped after the restart and somehow failed to equalise two minutes into the second-half. Santos wriggled free on the right side of the area and his low shot bounced back off the foot of Gamba’s left-hand post into the path of Park Hyun-beom. With the goal at his mercy, the midfielder’s shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

The Korea Republic team had their tails up and were level on 53 minutes. Santos freed Park on the left and his first time low ball into the box was slotted home by a sliding Shin at the near post.

Park was also involved in the goal that put Jeju ahead 11 minutes later. His long ball from the middle of the pitch was latched onto by Bae. The former Suwon star was forced to the left by goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya but still managed to squeeze his shot into the net from a tight angle.

Tianjin Teda 2-1 Gamba Osaka
Tianjin Teda are now leaders of Group E with a narrow 2 – 1 victory over  Gamba Osaka.

Tianjin proved the more dangerous side from the outset as their attacking line caused problems for the Gamba defence.

Li Weifeng asked the first question of Yosuke Fujigaya after two minutes, heading Chen’s corner straight at the goalkeeper.

The visitors looked for an immediate reply with Takashi Usami’s long-range effort two minutes later deflecting off a Tianjin defender.

Luciano Olguin had the ball in the net for Tianjin after 22 minutes but the Argentine striker had strayed offside before firing past Fujigaya.

Just two minutes later, the hosts opened the scoring when Chen played a one-two with Olguin before curling home from 30 yards.

Brazilian forward Adriano then delivered a well-weighted cross into the path of Lee who made no mistake in driving the ball beyond keeper Yang Qipeng from 15 yards as Gamba leveled the match in the 30th minute.

Adriano’s solo run fifteen minutes later looked dangerous and it ended with the striker driving into the penalty area to stab a left-footed shot that was palmed away by Yang.

Just after half time, Chen’s shot hit a Gamba defender but the midfielder collected the rebound and fired a second attempt that flew just wide.

One minute later, Chen was brought down in the box by Takagi in full flight and the referee awarded the hosts a penalty that Cao calmly steered past Fujigaya.

Gamba stepped up their attacking intent for the remainder of the game while Tianjin appeared more defence-minded to protect their slender lead.

Lee posed a threat to Tianjin goal seven minutes from time only to see his header fly wide. Yang then made two superb saves just before the final whistle to ensure the hosts kept all three points.

Melbourne Victory has lost its second ACL clash in a row and now faces a very difficult task to progress into the knockout rounds of the tournament. Korea’s Jeju United where by far the better team on the night winning 2-1.

Victory was outclassed again under caretaker Mehmet Durakovic, leaving little hope of reaching the ACL knockout stages for the first time in three attempts.

Aside from one early botched half-chance to Melbourne striker Danny Allsopp, the visitor dominated the first 30 minutes.

Victory was lucky that Jeju had several near-misses among its frequent, early attacking moves.

The most fortunate escape came in the 20th minute, when a Jeju goal-bound shot ricocheted off the shoulder of Melbourne’s Marvin Angulo, on the line.

It appeared a matter of time until Jeju scored, but instead Allsopp capitalised first from a rare Victory chance.

It was beautifully-constructed, starting with a clever intercept by captain Adrian Leijer. He passed to Tom Pondeljak, who threaded it to Archie Thompson in the box, the striker laying off to fellow frontman Allsopp, who sidestepped the defence, then netted a left-footer.

Victory’s lead lasted just four minutes, before its customary vulnerability at set pieces surfaced – a failed corner clearance allowing Jeju’s Park Hyunbem a simple finish.

The second half started like the first, with goalkeeper Michael Petkovic kept busy. The veteran had enough tentative moments for the small crowd of 4,825 to cheer at one point when he took a ball cleanly.

Still, Melbourne almost regained the lead after a clever through-ball from substitute Carlos Hernandez found Thompson one-out with the keeper, but the star striker’s 61st-minute shot rolled wide.

Eventually Jeju’s attack capitalised on its control, Lee Hyunho receiving a cross between veteran Victory defenders Kevin Muscat and Matthew Kemp in the 84th minute, to seal the win which left Melbourne last in its group.

Tianjin Teda 1-0 Jeju United
A second half strike by Yu Dabao’s was the clincher in a very tight contest between Tianjin Teda and Jeju United.

Jeju United from Korea Republic made their debut appearance and looked to dominate the game but were caught out by a classic counter-attack on the 55 minute mark by Tianjin Teda.

Jeju came close to the opener in the 16th minute when a chipped ball over the defence found Kim Eun-jung unmarked in the penalty box. Eun-jung volleyed the ball over with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Teda’s Yu went close in the seven minutes before the break. The powerful forward burst into the right side of the penalty area only to see his shot skid just wide of Kim Ho-jun’s right-hand post.

A minute later, Jeju’s Kim Eun-jung had his back to goal inside the Tianjin area and fed Santos but his shot was parried away for a corner by Yang Qipeng.

Yu was Tianjin’s liveliest player and opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Zhang Xhaobin broke free down the right and curled an inviting cross towards the near post. Jeju’s goalkeeper failed to intercept leaving Yu to hook the ball in from close range. Jeju tried to find a way back into the match but struggled to create any clear chances in the face of a well-organised Tianjin defence.

Gamba Osaka 5-1 Melbourne Victory
Gamba Osaka have come out firing in matchday 1 with a 5 – 1 thrashing of Melbourne Victory.

Gamba were unstoppable from the first whistle with 3 unanswered goals within the first 3 minutes.

Takuya Takei inflicted the first blow from the top of the box in the fourth minute, after star Japan international Yasuhito Endo’s corner was headed away.

Three minutes later, Muscat gave away a penalty, which was coolly slotted home by Gamba’s newly-signed Brazilian striker Adriano.

Then home side’s Lee Keun-Ho, who had earned the penalty, scored himself in the 11th minute, set up by an excellent Adriano cross.

Victory began to show signs of creating a contest late in the first half. Thompson earned a penalty in the 22 minute, which was put away by Muscat. Whilst Melbourne’s Allsopp, Kruse and Thompson began to cause some trouble, while a slightly more defensive formation, after a 15th minute substitution, also helped.

With a touch more luck, Victory could have been within striking distance at the break. An Allsopp shot caught the wrong side of the left post, after a nice turn set-up from Thompson, in the 36th minute.

Minutes later, a Rodrigo Vargas headed goal was disallowed, when he was ruled off-side.

Gamba showed its class in the second half, making it 4 – 1 and beyond Victory’s reach, when Adriano set up Takahiro Futagawa, before substitute Kim Seung Yong made it 5 – 1 with a header  in stoppage-time.

Victory coach Ernie Merrick said there were no excuses for his side’s performance and nothing positive to take from the match, with the game effectively over after Gamba’s opening salvo.

“We were just a bit overwhelmed at the start, they came out all guns blazing, we took a backward step and they just buzzed around and took their chances when they came,” Merrick said.

“But to concede a goal that early from a corner kick and just behind it a penalty kick, that is just soul-destroying.”

Today we move on to Group E and the East of the AFC Asian Champions League 2011.

Group E is made up of the following teams:

• Gamba Osaka (Jap)
• Jeju United (Kor)
• Melbourne Victory (Aus)
• Tianjin Teda (Chn)

Gamba Osaka
A favourite as always to progress into the knockout stages of the tournament. Gamba are a regular in the ACL Champions League. 2011 Division 1 season is yet to start (due 5/3) and so teams will have been in preseason and playing practice games coming into the group stages of the ACL Champions League. Match fitness might be an issue for some of the players. Gamba had a very successful 2010, achieving 2nd position. In 2010 ACL they were knockout by eventual winners Seongnam in the first knockout round. This is however a very tough group but you would expect Gamba to be a serious contender for 1st place n Group E.

Jeju United
Jeju have been in pre-season so no up to date performance information to work with. Jeju placed 2nd last year with only 3 points behind FC Seoul. Seventeen wins, eight draws and three loses saw them enter the ACL this season. Sitting 3rd at the moment in the Zain Saudi Professional League with 9 wins, 4 draws and 3 loses. Jeju didn’t compete in the 2010 season so we can’t draw on this as a predictor for this year. Given the overall performance of K League teams in this tournament and last year’s form, Jeju will be a force to reckon with this year.

Melbourne Victory
Melbourne had a great 2010 and are finishing 2011 with an appearance in the finals (playing tonight’s knockout round). With the season ending shortly in Australia, Melbourne will be weary but fit for the ACL tournament, this their 3rd attempt to progress past the Group stage. They have always had a strong team, but not enough scoring ability in this tournament to win the games they need to at home. Maybe 2011 will be different, experience will assist but this is not an easy group. Aiming for 2nd place will be the plan.

Tianjin Teda
Chinese Super League is also in off season but due to start shortly. Tianjin managed second in 2010 with 13 wins,11 draws and 6 loses. No 2010 ACL experience doesn’t give us much to work with in 2011 but Tianjin had a very strong domestic result last year and will be building for 2011 with a hope of making a real go of their ACL opportunity. This is a tough group with Gamba the only success story of the 4 teams. Jeju, Melbourne and Tianjin all have a great opportunity to fight for 2nd place.

Chinese champions Beijing Guoan progressed into the second round thanks to 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale. With Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa already winning the group, Fontale had set up a winner-takes-all clash against Guoan.

Beijing Guoan 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale

Frontale needed a win to make it into the 2nd round of the ACL for the 3rd successive year. Goals either side of halt-time from Joel Griffiths and Valdo ensured the Japanese would make an early exit.

Griffith’s goal was created following a defensive error by Yusuke Tasaka. The Australian showed a cool head inside the box before firing his shot across Eiji Kawashima in the Frontale goal to set the hosts on their way. Valdo made it 2 – 0 and sent Guoan into the knockout stage. Valdo met Yan Xiangchuang’s through ball, rounded Eiji and tapped the ball into the empty net. Guoan will face Group G winners Suwon Bluewings in the knockout stage.

Seongnam Ilhwa 3–2 Melbourne Victory

An goal in the final 10 minutes sealed it for Seongnam against Melbourne Victory to set up a second round clash with Gamba Osaka.

Cheon Kwang-jin scored the opening goal in the 27th minute when he side-footed Namkung Do’s centre beyond Mitchell Langerak in the Victory goal. Victory equalised when Dugandzic met a Carlos Hernandez’s pass to fire home the equaliser. With 20 minutes remaining Seongnam’s standout performer Namkung Do put them back into the lead. Victory responded immediately with Tom Pondeljak grabbing a Victory equaliser five minutes later. Cho sealed victory for Seongnam with just over five minutes remaining, racing clear before chipping the ball over Langerak.

“We could see why Seongnam have won the group,” said Victory coach Ernie Merrick. “They moved the ball around very quickly in the middle and make lots of goal-scoring opportunities.”

Group E

Kawasaki Frontale 3-0 Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma

Kawasaki Frontale have given themselves a great chance of advancing by beating Seongnam 3 – 0 at home. They now travel to Beijing Gouan on the final matchday only one point behind the Chinese Super League team, with the winner progressing alongside Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.

Frontale were two goals ahead by the 20 minute mark. Hiroyuki Taniguchi opened the scoring after five minutes and Yusuke Tasaka doubled the lead 15 minutes after. It remained 2 – 0 until the 79th minute when Renatinho scored the third.

Melbourne Victory 0-0 Beijing Gouan

Melbourne earned their first draw and fourth point of the group stage. The 1 point however, wasn’t enough to keep them in contention. Beijing missed the chance to go three points clear of Kawasaki and instead face the Japanese in a winner takes all shootout on matchday 6.

Group F

Changchun Yatai 0-1 Kashima Antlers

Kashima scored in the first half through Shinzo Koroki to see off Changchun Yatai on matchday five in the AFC Champions League. Shinzo pounced upon a Samuel Caballero error in the 37th minute to put it past the goalkeeper.

Kashima have an unbeaten record so far in the competition and will be a great match-up in the round of 16 where they will either face Pohang Steelers or Adelaide United.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 8-0 Persipura Jayapura

Persipura Jayaspura received another hiding in Match Day 5. The Indonesian minnows were hammered 8-0 by K-League outfit, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Eninho, Park Won Jae and a Lee Dong Gook penalty put the hosts well in the clear by half time. Eninho and Jung Jin Seo added the fourth and fifth goals just after half-time before 3 goals in the space of 10 minutes made it eight.

Jeonbuk are set to face the winners of Group H in the last 16 should they fail to claim all three points at Kashima on matchday 6. Persipura remain pointless with a goal difference they surely can’t be proud of.

Group A
AFC Asian Champions League Group A was settled today, with Esteghlal securing their qualification with a home win over Al Ahli while a hat-trick from Brazilian Araujo meant that Al Gharafa now also progress.

Esteghlal 2–1 Al Ahli

Esteghlal booked their spot in the round of 16 thanks to a 2-1 victory over Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

Mehdi Salehi put the hosts ahead after 25 minutes, shooting past Yasser Al Mosailem in the Al Ahli goal. Brazilian Victor Simoes equalised from the penalty spot ten minutes later before Amirhossein Saghedi headed Esteghlal into the final 16 right on half-time.

Al Gharafa 4-2 Al-Jazira

Former Cruzeiro striker Araujo has been a revelation since joining the Cheetahs in 2007 and he was the hero again this evening, striking a hat-trick to sink UAE League outfit Al-Jazira and sending Al Gharafa into the knockout stages.

The Brazilian headed his first on 11 minutes, leaping to nod home a Juninho cross, and then doubled the lead five minutes before the break. Any hope Al-Jazira had of a comeback were quickly quashed when the Brazilian hitman completed his hat-trick a minute after the break, latching onto a mistake from Jazira goalkeeper Ali Kashief Housani. By the time Otman El Assas made it four shortly after the hour mark, the game was already up. Former Betis striker Rafael Sobis pulled one back for the visitors before Ali Albloushi grabbed a second consolation in the final minute.

Group B
Hassan Amin’s scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute to give Al Wahda an unexpected win over group leaders Zobahan.

Al Wahda 1-0 Zobahan

Al Wahda hasn’ had a good tournament so far sitting last in Group B. Iran’s Zobahan, meanwhile, have been one of the stand-out performers of this season’s competition, having achieved an unexpected double over Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Bunyodkor.

The hosts made a thrilling start to the game and should have had the game won at half-time. They finally scored in the 71st minute thanks to a fine solo effort from Amin to clinch a bit of pride for the 2007 semi-finalists.

Al-Ittihad 1–1 Bunyodkor

Bunyodkor were hoping for an improved performance this week after 2 straight defeats. Scolari knew defeat would all but eliminate them. The hosts went ahead through a 37th minute penalty, however, Aziz Haydarov’s equaliser just after the hour was enough to clinch a point and save the day. All will now be decided on matchday six when Bunyodkor host Al Wahda and Al-Ittihad travel to Iran to face Zobahan.

With all games in Match Day 4 of the AFC Champions League completed, two more teams have confirming their places in the Round of 16.

Seongnam Ilhwa made it four in a row in Group E to go through while Suwon Bluewings made sure of their advance in Group G.

Group A

Esteghlal, of Iran, drew 1-1 away to Qatar’s Al Gharafa and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli scored a 2-0 away win over Al Jazira.

Younis Mahmoud gave Gharafa a 1-0 lead before the interval but Mehdi Salehi equalised for the visitors on 58 minutes.

Brazilian striker Victor was the hero for Ahli. He scored a goal in each half with Jazira down to 10 men following the second-half sending off of midfielder Sultan Al Menhali.

Group C

Sepahan have put themselves back into contention for a round of 16 place after their 2-0 home victory over Pakhtakor while Shabab beat Al Ain 3-2 at home.

Ibrahima Toure and Mohsen Bengar scoring within the last 17 minutes to earn victory for Sepahan.

Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Camacho rounded off a stirring comeback by Shabab with his late winner against Al Ain. Flavio gave Shabab the lead after 11 minutes before Jose Sand and an own goal from defender Masead Nada handed the visitors the lead on 60 minutes.

Camacho then set up Flavio for the equaliser before finishing it off himself with seven minutes remaining.

Group E

Korea Republic’s Seongnam have earned a place in the next round after their 1-0 away victory over China’s Beijing Guoan.

Melbourne Victory won for the first time after three straight defeats, beating Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 at home.

Mauricio Molina scored with 15 minutes remaining for Seongnam. Whilst in the other game Kevin Muscat scored a penalty to breath some life into Melbourne’s campaign.

Group G

Suwon Bluewings have also progressed into the last 16 with a 2-0 home victory over China’s Henan Jianye.

Gamba Osaka beat Singapore Armed Forces 3-0 at home to boost their chances.

Jose Mota followed up his two goals against Henan from last week with an early strike on Wednesday with Kim Dae-ui adding the second.

Goals from defender Michihiro Yasuda, Shoki Hirai, and substitute Ze Carlos gave Gamba an easy win.

Melbourne Victory skipper Kevin Muscat has come to the rescue of Melbourne Victory by scoring a 60th minute penalty to restore some respectability to his side’s Asian Champions League campaign in a 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale.

On the same ground he missed a spot-kick in Victory’s A-League grand final penalty shootout loss to Sydney FC 10 days earlier, Muscat slotted home Victory’s second-half winner against the Japanese side at Etihad Stadium.

Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak was outstanding for his side – pulling off four vital saves to deny the wasteful visitors.

They included a reflex save from a deflected shot in the dying seconds to maintain his side’s lead.

The match turned on a 60th minute decision by Iranian referee Saeid Mozaffari Zadeh to award a dubious penalty to Melbourne.

Striker Robbie Kruse went to ground under a light challenge from Kawasaki defender Takanobu Komiyama, which replays showed was well outside the area regardless of the level of contact.

But Muscat stepped up and put away the penalty, easing a little of the disappointment from his rare miss in the grand final.

Victory will need all other results in the ACL to go its way to have any hope of making the top two and advancing to the second stage of the competition.