Lekhwiya 1-0 Sepahan

Lekhwiya have made up for the loss they had at the hands of Sepahan in the AFC Champions League two weeks with a lone goal by Bakari Kone in stoppage time to give the Qatar Stars League champions a 1-0 win.

The loss was Sepahan’s first the this year’s Asian Champions League tournament. A win would have secured them passage into the last 16. However, following the loss they remain one point ahead of Lekhwiya in the group with seven points.

There were few efforts to comment on in the first half. The best opportunity fell to Lekhwiya’s Korean midfielder Nam Tae-hee, who sidestepped a challenge by Omid Ebrahimi just outside the Sepahan box before he launched a powerful shot, punched clear by the Sepahan keeper Rahman Ahmadi.

Algeria international defender Madjid Bougherra went close to unlocking the Sepahan defence midway through the second half with a marauding run that took him past six defenders before a last-ditch tackle saw the ball ricochet off him and into the grateful arms of Ahmadi.

Sepahan’s best opportunity of the second half fell to Correa with five minutes left when the Brazilian was found in space on the left of the Lekhwiya box. However, he failed to add to his tally of three goals as goalkeeper Baba Malick came quickly off his line to snuff out the danger.

The match looked destined for a stalemate before Kone struck as the match entered extra time. The Ivorian played a neat one-two with Razak on the edge of the box before he thumped an unstoppable right-footed effort past Ahmadi.

Lekhwiya could even have made it two right at the end as Kone laid on a pass for an unmarked Razak, whose loose shot flew over the crossbar.

Despite seeing his side overtaken in the group by Al Ahli, who moved into first place on goal difference after their 3-1 win over Al Nasr, Sepahan coach Zlatko Kranjcar remained confident of their chances of advancing to the last 16.

Al Ahli 3-1 Al Nasr

Al Ahli moved to the top of Group C on goal difference after they came from a goal down to beat Al Nasr 3-1

Al Ahli also beat Al Nasr 2-1 in Dubai a fortnight ago and they began the match strongly in front of their home fans with Brazilian midfielder Marcelo Camacho going close in the 17th minute with a shot from just outside the box which was stopped by Al Nasr goalkeeper Abdulla Moosa.

The stalemate was broken by Al Nasr just after the half-hour mark. A free-kick taken by Mohamed Ali from 35 metres out picked out Diane and the Cote d’Ivoire forward headed past Al Ahli goalkeeper Abdullah Al Muaiouf for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Al Alhi thought they had made in 1 – 1 6 minutes later when when Simoes headed in a cross by Camacho only for it to be ruled offside.

They continued to push for the equaliser after the interval and their pressure finally told in the 55th minute when Jezawi’s powerful low shot from 20 metres found its way through a crowd of players and went into the Al Nasr net despite Moosa getting a hand to the ball.

The hosts scored again after the 66th minute as Camacho’s delightful cross from the left found an unmarked Simoes who rose high to meet the ball with a powerful header that gave Moosa no chance.

The result was put beyond doubt seven minutes later when Camacho’s free-kick from the right was turned in by Al Mousa.

Al Ahli coach Karel Jarolim was frustrated by his side’s wasteful finishing in the first half but felt much better after he had seen them take their chances after the interval.

Nasaf 0-1 Al Rayyan
Al Rayyan claimed their first ever away win in the AFC Champions League with a 1-0 victory at Nasaf boosting their chances of an appearance in the knockout phase.

The victory was Al Rayyan’s second in a row against the Uzbek club in Group A following their 3-1 win in Doha two weeks ago and it moved them up to second with six points, four behind group leaders Al Jazira and one ahead of Esteghlal with two games to play.

Nasaf have only one point from four games and are out of contention for a spot in the last 16.

Al Rayyan had most of the play and the chances early in the first half. Fabio Cesar shot wide with an opportunistic effort from 20 metres in the opening minutes and Daniel Goma tested Hasanov with an effort from even further out in the 10th minute.

Nasaf’s defence was caught ball-watching when Goma ghosted into the box and fired a loose ball on target which Hasanov saved well.

Later in the first half, goalkeeper Hasanov was rounded by Tabata after a brilliant run by the Brazilian that also took him past three Nasaf defenders. They were saved by Latvian midfielder Andrejs Pereplotkins, who got back in time to turn his goalbound effort wide.

Nasaf offered little in attack during the first half with Ilkhom Shomurodov going closest for the hosts with an 18th minute header that he put wide of the target.

Al Rayyan continued to turn the screw in the second half and Tabata nearly profited when he directed a shot on target after Hasanov dropped a corner only to see his effort cleared off the line by Botir Karaev.

However, the deadlock was finally broken by Tabata’s sensational strike in the 62nd minute. The free-kick from a central position nearly 40 metres from goal appeared to be too far out to really worry Hasanov but such was the power and accuracy of the Brazilian’s shot that it found the bottom right corner of the net despite the Nasaf goalkeeper getting a touch to it.

Nasaf could not muster a response and they could even have conceded another right at the end when Bojan Malisic deflected Tabata’s free-kick into his own net only for the referee to disallow it for a shove on Malisic by Alves.

Al Jazira 1-1 Esteghlal
Al Jazira confirmed their spot in the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League when they drew 1-1 with Esteghlal on Wednesday.

Al Jazira entered the match with a perfect record after victories in their first three games. It was Esteghlal however who had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead in the 24th minute. Ferydoon Zandi was the architect of the goal, taking the ball to the left byline before cutting it back for Borhani to fire a first-time effort past Al Jazira goalkeeper Ali Khaseif.

The home side had a good chance to draw level right before half-time when Oliveira made a strong run that took him past three defenders before he put his shot wide of the left upright.

However the Brazilian would get on the scoresheet just after the hour mark with what would prove to be a crucial goal. The Brazilian rose to meet Subait Khater’s corner from the left but the ball hit his back rather than his head and looped past goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati for the equaliser.

Nagoya Grampus 0-0 Tianjin Teda
Keiji Tamada’s missed penalty cost Nagaoya Grampus top spot in Group G of the 2012 AFC Champions League after a 0-0 draw with Chinese Super League side Tianjin Teda.

Tamada, a member of Japan’s AFC Asian Cup winning squad back in 2004, slid the ball wide of goal in the 59th minute after his side had been awarded a penalty after Yuki Maki had been hauled down inside the area.

The draw sees Nagoya drop to second in Group G, behind Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma on goal difference after the K-League side defeated Central Coast Mariners 5-0 later in the evening to move on to six points. Tianjin are in third on three points, level with Central Coast.

Tianjin coach Josip Kuze praised his team’s performance just two weeks after they suffered a comprehensive defeat to the same opponents on home soil.

Kuze made a raft of changes to the team that lost against Nagoya on Matchday 3 but he refuted suggestions he had given up on his team’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the competition.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 5-0 Central Coast
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma picked up their first win of the 2012 AFC Champions League campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Central Coast Mariners.

Whilst it was a tight first 30 minutes, Seongnam seemed to have the advantage. With six minutes remaining in the half, the K-League side went in front when Kim Sung-hwan threaded the ball through to Heverton and the Brazilian laid off to Lee, who gave Ryan little chance with a crisply struck shot.

In the 43rd minute, Seongnam doubled their advantage with a moment of brilliance from Everton Santos, who volleyed home with his right foot after Jovancic’s header of Heverton’s free kick dropped over the striker’s right shoulder.

Seongnam asserted their dominance in the second half and, in the 70th minute, Kim raced into the Central Coast penalty area before lashing a right-foot shot high into the net, beating Ryan with pace and power.

And, just three minutes later, referee Saeid Mozaffarizadeh pointed to the penalty spot when Kim Sung-joon was brought down and Everton Santos stroked the ball home to add to Central Coast’s misery.

Jovancic then completed the rout in the 83rd minute when he side-footed the ball home to give the K-League side an emphatic victory that ignites their challenge for a place in the Round of 16, while handing Central Coast a first defeat following a run of three successive draws for the A-League side.

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.

Games for 18 April 2012

BUNYODKOR (UZB) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN) (3- 2) (FT)
ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR) (1 – 0) (FT)
NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN) (0 – 0) (FT)
SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v CENTRAL COAST (AUS) (5 – 0) (FT)
NASAF (UZB) v AL RAYYAN (QAT) (0 – 1) (FT)
AL JAZIRA (UAE) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN) (1 – 1) (FT)
LEKHWIYA (QAT) v SEPAHAN (IRN) (1 – 0) (FT)
AL AHLI (KSA) v AL NASR (UAE) (3 – 1) (FT)

Al Arabi 0-1 Pakhtakor
Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov capitalised on a defensive error to score the only goal of the game as Pakhtakor boosted their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League with a 1-0 away win over pointless Al Arabi on Tuesday.

The Pakhtakor striker struck four minutes before half-time at the Grand Hamad Stadium following some calamitous defending by Ahmed Dad to give the Uzbek side their second consecutive win, which sent them up to second in Group B.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men with 15 minutes left when Oybek Kilichev was shown his second yellow card of the match but the Qatari team created little real danger in the closing minutes as they remained the only side in the competition without a point after four games.

The tournament newcomers sit at the bottom of the group, five points behind third-placed Baniyas while Pakhtakor now have seven and trail leaders Al Ittihad by three.

Al Arabi lost 3-1 at Pakhtakor two weeks ago but they started the return match well and could have taken an early lead as Boualem Khoukhi squandered two great early openings, chipping wide after he had been sent clear in the second minute and then sending a free header wide three minutes later.

The home side were only denied the lead by some desperate defending in the 17th minute. Arafat Djako’s excellent pass sent Leonardo Pisculichi clear on the right flank and while the Argentinian’s attempted chip was stopped by goalkeeper Temur Juraev, the ball fell to Djako, who put his shot back on goal only to see it stopped by Egor Krimets’ heroic block.

The visitors gradually took charge as the half developed with Sharofetdinov almost putting them ahead in the 37th minute with a fierce shot from close range that rattled the crossbar.

Abdukholiqov and Kilichev were also denied by some brilliant goalkeeping by Rajab Hamza before Dad’s poor judgement gifted Pakhtakor the opener.

He completely misread the high bounce of the ball and allowed it to be nicked off him by Kilichev. Hamza alertly came off his goalline in an attempt to snuff out threat but although he got to the ball ahead of the Pakhtakor player, it fell nicely for Abdukholiqov to fire the ball past defender Hadi Aghily.

Pakhtakor gave little away after the break and defended well while offering a constant threat on the counterattack.

Kilichev should have made it 2-0 in the 66th minute with a brilliant curling effort from the left edge of the box that came back off the inside of the right post.

However, the 23-year-old marred his fine display with a needless sending off in the 75th minute when he received his second booking for a wild and late lunge on Pisculichi.

The hosts did little with the extra man though with their best effort for an equaliser falling to Pisculichi, whose low shot in the closing minutes went narrowly wide.

It was yet another frustrating outing for Al Arabi coach Pierre Lechantre, who has yet to see his side manage a victory in the competition.

Meanwhile, Pakhtakor coach Dejan Durdevic was pleased with the way that his side had recovered after their shaky start to the game.

Baniyas 0-0 Al Ittihad
Abu Dhabi: Al Ittihad edged closer to a spot in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after a dull goalless draw with Baniyas on Tuesday.
The Saudi club had entered the game at the Baniyas Club Stadium with a perfect record and a five-point lead in Group B that left them needing only a win to confirm their passage into the knockout rounds with two games to spare.

But Raul Caneda’s side showed little of the verve that had seen them win all three of their earlier games in the group including a 1-0 victory over their opponents from the United Arab Emirates in Jeddah two weeks ago.

Indeed the best opportunity of the game fell to the home side in the 78th minute when Francisco Yeste’s free-kick from the left found Fawaz Awana, who headed wastefully over the crossbar.

Pakthakor’s 1-0 win over Al Arabi in the night’s other Group B game meant that Al Ittihad will have to wait until the next round of games before they can book their place in the round of 16 although they should do so unless they suffer a heavy away defeat at Pakhtakor on May 2.

Nevertheless, Al Ittihad coach Raul Caneda was unhappy to see his side’s 100% record come to an end.

Baniyas may have slipped to third with the draw but their coach, Gabriel Calderon, remained optimistic about their chances of reaching the last 16.

Piroozi 1-1 Al Gharafa

Lawrence Quaye fired in a stunning stoppage-time equaliser as 10-man Al Gharafa prevented Piroozi from clinching a spot in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.

The Iranian side had appeared to be headed for a victory that would have sent them through to the knockout round with two games to spare when Ali Karimi scored with a deflected shot six minutes from time.

But despite being a player down for the final 19 minutes after the dismissal of their Iranian striker Farhad Majidi, the Qatari club drew level when Quaye launched a screamer from 20 metres into the top right corner of the net.

Having seen his team trounced 3-0 at home by Piroozi just two weeks ago, Al Gharafa coach Paulo Silas was delighted with the resilience displayed by his players in the intimidating atmosphere of the Azadi Stadium.

While Piroozi still lead the group and should be able to wrap up their place in the knockout round in their remaining two games, coach Mustafa Denizli was disappointed that his players did not make better use of their opportunities.

Al Gharafa suffered an early blow in the game when striker Aruna Dindane had to be replaced in the 14th minute after he had appeared to roll his ankle.

The first half was a rather lifeless affair with the first real scoring opportunities only arriving close to the half-hour mark when Piroozi goalkeeper Asmir Avdukic made good saves to keep out a Farhad Majidi header and Quaye’s acrobatic kick.

Mohammad Nori had the Iranian side’s best chance of the half in the 33rd minute as he poked a cross from the right towards the net but saw his effort deflected wide for a corner.

Piroozi took control early in the second half with Ali Karimi shooting over from the edge of the box before the Reds skipper crossed for an unmarked Eamon Zayed, who headed wastefully over from point blank range.

Al Gharafa had chances of their own and Ibrahim Al Ghanim nearly put them in front when he met Fahid Al Shammari’s cross from the right with a glancing header that went narrowly wide.

Majidi was booed constantly by the Piroozi fans because of his past connections with their bitter rivals Esteghlal and he raised perhaps the loudest cheers of the night when he was sent off in the 72nd minute after he received his second yellow card in five minutes for what the referee deemed to be simulation when he went down in the Piroozi box following a challenge by Mohammad Nosrati.

Piroozi laid siege to the Al Gharafa goal after that but goalkeeper Qassim Borhan did brilliantly to deny Amir Hossein Feshangchi and Mohammd Nori in quick succession.

But in the 84th minute, Karimi broke the deadlock when he sidestepped challenges by Al Ghanim and Hamed Shami in the Al Gharafa box before taking a shot which took a wicked deflection off Otman El Assas and looped past Qassim Borhan.

However it was not the end of the story as the visitors levelled in added time when Diego Tardelli laid the ball off for Quaye, who launched a fierce shot that took a slight nick off a defender on its way into the net.

Al Hilal 2-1 Al Shabab Al Arabi

Riyadh: Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi scored twice as Al HIlal came from a goal down to beat Al Shabab Al Arabi 2-1 in a Group D encounter on Tuesday for their first victory in this season’s AFC Champions League. The Saudi giants dominated the opening exchanges at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium but they fell behind in the 29th minute when Kieza rounded off a fine counter-attack for the visitors.

But El Arabi levelled for the hosts just before half-time and then netted the winner midway through the second half as Al Hilal were able to close the gap on group leaders Piroozi.

With the Iranian side held to a 1-1 draw by Al Gharafa earlier in the day, they now hold only a two-point advantage over Al Hilal with the two sides scheduled to meet in a fortnight’s time in Tehran.

The home side grabbed the early initiative and could have taken the lead as early as in the third minute when a miskick by Hamdan Qassim presented an opening to Hassan Khairat, whose shot across goal was pushed out for a corner by goalkeeper Salem Abdulla.

Salem Mohammed brought the ball in from the left flank and launched a shot that was deflected over the Al Shabab goal and Nawaf Al Abid had a low shot that was well covered by Abdulla as Al Hilal turned up the heat.

The Saudi side could have been awarded a penalty when Salem Mohammed appeared to be tripped by the Al Shabab goalkeeper but against the run of play, the visitors took the lead.

Al Hilal lost possession in the opposition half and the ball was played out quickly to the right flank to Ciel, who took his time before he centred the ball for Kieza, who drilled it into the roof of the net.

The home side struggled to muster a response but an equaliser did arrive just before half-time. A corner from the right was knocked down by Majed Al Masrshadi to El Arabi, who quickly turned it into the net amidst confusion in the Al Shabab defence.

The second half was a rather even affair but the hosts went ahead for the first time in the 68th minute when Yoo Byung-soo slipped the ball through to El Arabi, who burst into the Al Shabab box on the right and fired a low shot across the body of Salem Abdulla into the far corner of net.

Ciel had a free-kick well saved by Hassan Al Otabi but the hosts appeared well placed for the win until defender Sultan Al Beshi was sent off a minute from time for a high-footed challenge that caught the face of Ciel.

Al Shabab failed to take advantage of the extra man though with their best opportunity falling in stoppage time to Sami Anbar, who scooped the loose ball over the crossbar after Al Otaibi had spilled Ciel’s free-kick.

Brisbane Roar 1-2 Ulsan Hyundai

Brisbane: A penalty from captain Kwak Tae-hwi with 17 minutes remaining earned Ulsan Hyundai a 2-1 win over A-League Grand Finalists Brisbane Roar on Tuesday to hand the K-League side a major boost in their bid to qualify for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League.

Shane Stefanutto’s third goal as a professional midway through the first half had cancelled out Ulsan’s early opener from Colombian midfielder Julian Estiven Velez.

But after Bahrain defender Sayed Mohamed Adnan was adjudged to have upended Kang Min-soo inside the area, Kwak made no mistake from 12 yards to hand Brisbane a second defeat of the campaign.

Ulsan went into the lead after just 11 minutes as Velez took advantage of a mistake from Mitch Nichols as the Roar midfielder conceded possession just outside his own penalty area and the Colombian midfielder beat Michael Theoklitos at his near post.

The visitors continued to dominate and Ulsan should have doubled their lead after 22 minutes as Lee Keun-ho failed to convert from close range and just three minutes later the home side took full advantage as Steffanuto was on hand to turn home a superb delivery from Massimo Murdocca.

Lee rattled the Brisbane crossbar three minutes before the hour mark with Theoklitos beaten before it was the home side’s turn to hit the woodwork with 21 minutes remaining through Luke Brattan.

But just four minutes later Ulsan regained the lead as Adnan was adjudged to have upended Kang inside the area and Kwak beat Theoklitos with the resulting penalty kick.

Thomas Broich came close to snatching an equaliser for Brisbane with four minutes remaining, but Kwak kept his side ahead before Brazilian striker Henrique (Henrique de Andrade Silva) wasted a glorious chance for the Roar two minutes later as the home side failed to convert a strong finish into an equaliser.

FC Tokyo 3-0 Beijing Guoan
Tokyo: FC Tokyo moved to the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League with a 3-0 win over Beijing Guoan in Group F on Tuesday that moved Ranko Popovic’s side to within a point of progressing to the next round.

The current Emperor’s Cup holders took the lead through Kazuma Watanabe after just seven minutes while a close-range effort from Yohei Otake on the stroke of half time and a third from Tatsuya Yazawa ensured FC Tokyo remain unbeaten in their first-ever season of continental competition.

Victory moves FC Tokyo onto eight points from four games, level on points with Ulsan Hyundai and six ahead of Brisbane Roar and Beijing. A draw with Brisbane on Matchday 5 would be enough to take the J.League side into the Round of 16.

FC Tokyo had the perfect start when, with seven minutes on the clock, Watanabe gave his side the lead when he headed home Naohiro Ishikawa’s free kick.

A minute into first-half stoppage time, the Japanese side doubled their lead when Watanabe latched onto a through ball before cutting inside to play Otake in on goal, and he scored from close range.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Yazawa put the result beyond doubt when he rounded Beijing goalkeeper Hou Sen before rolling the ball over the line.

Games for 17 April 2012
BRISBANE ROAR (AUS) v ULSAN HYUNDAI (KOR) (1 – 2) (FT)
JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS (KOR) v BURIRAM UNITED (THA) (3 – 2) (FT)
FC TOKYO v BEIJING GUOAN (CHN) (3 – 0) (FT)
GUANGZHOU EVERGRE (CHN) v KASHIWA REYSOL (JPN) (3 – 1) (FT)
BANIYAS (UAE) v AL ITTIHAD (KSA) (0 – 0) (FT)
AL ARABI (QAT) v PAKHTAKOR (UZB) (0 – 1) (FT)
AL HILAL (KSA) v AL SHABAB AL ARABI (UAE) (2 – 2 ) (FT)
PIROOZI ATHLETIC (IRN) v AL GHARAFA (QAT) (1 – 1) (FT)

18 Apr 2012 NASAF (UZB) v AL RAYYAN (QAT)
18 Apr 2012 AL JAZIRA (UAE) v ESTEGHLAL (IRN)
18 Apr 2012 LEKHWIYA (QAT) v SEPAHAN (IRN)
18 Apr 2012 AL AHLI (KSA) v AL NASR (UAE)
18 Apr 2012 BUNYODKOR (UZB) v GAMBA OSAKA (JPN)
18 Apr 2012 ADELAIDE UNITED (AUS) v POHANG STEELERS (KOR)
18 Apr 2012 NAGOYA GRAMPUS (JPN) v TIANJIN TEDA (CHN)
18 Apr 2012 SEONGNAM CHUNMA (KOR) v CENTRAL COAST (AUS)

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.

A late strike from Lee Dong-gook gave Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors a 1-0 win over Cerezo Osaka to put the Korea Republic team on top of Group G of the 2011 AFC Champions League.

With the game heading for goalless draw, Lee broke the deadlock 12 minutes from the end of an entertaining game to give the hosts a vital three points in a tight group. With two games remaining, three points separate Jeonbuk in first and Cerezo in third.

Jeonbuk attacked from the start and went close after just five minutes. Kim Dong-chan was released by Park Won-jae down the left side and the striker took the ball past his marker only to shoot straight at Cerezo goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon.

As the early exchanges calmed down, Jeonbuk began to put the visitors under pressure. The impressive Park was in action down the left again after 26 minutes and his cross from the left was headed just wide of Osaka’s left-hand post by Kim. Seconds later, Lee Dong-gook blasted over from just outside the area.

On the stroke of half-time, the J-League team came even closer to breaking the deadlock. A clever short corner wrong-footed the Jeonbuk defence. A shot from Inui was blocked and a subsequent attempt from Rodrigo was deflected into the grateful and unsuspecting arms of Yeom waiting on the goalline.

Both teams started the second-half as they did the first but the best chance of the game fell to the busy Inui 11 minutes after the restart. The goalscorer from Cerezo’s 1-0 win over Jeonbuk in Japan broke into the area and with just the goalkeeper to beat, tried to curl the ball home with the outside of his boot only to see his shot bounce harmlessly wide.

As full-time loomed into view, Cerezo were on top but it was Jeonbuk who broke the deadlock. Park pulled the ball back from the left byline to behind the penalty spot where Lee picked his spot to fire the ball past goalkeeper Kim.

Bunyodkor landed a decisive blow in the battle for Group C in the 2011 AFC Champions League after downing Piroozi 3-1 at the Azadi Stadium.

Anvar Rajabov put Bunyodkor in front with a thunderous finish on the hour mark before Hayrulla Karimov’s penalty nine minutes later, after substitute Alireza Mohamed had been sent off for hauling down Rajabov, doubled their advantage.

A horrible defensive mix-up allowed Shpejtim Arifi to pull a goal back with four minutes to go before keeper Ignatiy Nesterov pulled off a brilliant save to deny the same player in istoppage time. Bunyodkor immediately launched a counter-attack and Victor Karpenko scored the third goal.

Saman Aghazamani headed off the line following a corner after 21 minutes and Piroozi had a good chance four minutes from the break when a cross from deep was flicked on to Hadi Norozi. The forward held the ball up before laying it off to Mohammad Nori but he dragged a left-foot shot just beyond the far post.

Only a desperate last-ditch challenge prevented Kamoliddin Murzoev from adding a second before Bunyodkor did extend their lead in the 69th minute.

Azizbek Haydarov’s pass set Rajabov free down the left and as he drove into the box, the forward was pulled back by Mohamed, who was sent-off.

Haghighi managed to get his fingers to Karimov’s penalty and push it onto the post but unfortunately for the Piroozi keeper, it came back off his head and into the net.

Another forceful Rajabov run ended with the striker flashing a shot just wide as the Piroozi defence backed off before Haghighi saved Sasa Dordovic’s header.

Bunyodkor then gifted Piroozi a way back into the game with four minutes to go. An innocuous ball trickling towards the Uzbeks’ goal posed no threat but a communication mix-up between Nesterov and his defender allowed Arifi to slide in and score.

His anger was exacerbated seconds later when Bunyodkor immediately launched a counter-attack and with players queuing up to score, Karpenko calmly applied the finish.

Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal rallied from a two-goal deficit to pull off an incredible 3-2 victory over hosts Al Jazira in Wednesday’s 2011 AFC Champions League Group A clash.

Al Jazira stunned the Saudi giants with two quick goals towards the end of the first-half but Al Hilal regained their composure and pulled off a fine win to move a step closer to a second-round place with nine points from four games, the same as Iranian side Sepahan.

The first 10 minutes of the match were played at a frenetic pace with the Saudi side building some attractive moves but they failed to match their approach work and hardly tested stand in keeper Khaled Eisa.

While Al Hilal impressed with their bulid-up, Al Jazira also had a few attempts and in the 24th minute an Ahmed Jumaa cross was thwarted just before Ali Mabkhout could reach it before Mabkhout tried a fine overhead volley which went wide.

The home fans were then delirious with joy as Al Jazira struck twice within a space of two minutes on the stroke of half-time.

The first came from a brilliant move initiated by defender Juma Abdullah, who ran down the left flank and then pulled the ball back for Jumaa and he crossed to Mabkhout. Jumaa then raced into the box to receive the ball back from Abdullah Qasem and tapped it across to Mabkhout who slammed the ball through Al Hilal goalkeeper Hasan Al Otaibi’s legs for the lead.

Al Jazira struck again from the restart when Qasem intercepted a backpass from Abdullah Al Zori to Mirel Radoi and went on to keep his cool to beat the advancing Al Otaibi.

Al Hilal then struck a purple patch and scored three goals in 20 minutes. It began in the 56th minute with Al Qahtani’s free-kick deflecting off a defender’s leg and flew into the top-left corner, giving no chance to Eisa, before the 2007 AFC Player of the Year did well to squeeze home between the goalkeeper and the post for the equaliser eight minutes later.

The winner came in the 74th minute after Eisa saved a Radoi free-kick and from the resultant corner kick, Osama Hawsawi jumped for the ball and substitute Mohammed Al Menhali felled the airborne Saudi player to give away a penalty. This time Eisa was beaten by Radoi and Al Hilal heaved a sigh of relief.

Amara Diane’s first-half goal saw Al Gharafa end Sepahan’s perfect record in the 2011 AFC Champions League and boost their flagging hopes of place in the knockout stage.

Diane struck in the 19th minute of the Group A clash at Al Gharafa Stadium and the hosts could even afford to see Juninho miss a penalty in the second-half as they collected their first win of the campaign and inflicted Sepahan’s first defeat in the process.

In the 32nd minute, Sepahan captain Moharram Navidkia almost scored direct from a corner but the ball was helped over the crossbar to safety by Burhan.

The second period began at ferocious pace as the visiting side mounted a series of attacks to try and find an equaliser but it was Al Gharafa who nearly scored a second time as Ahmed Fares’ fierce shot from close range was blocked by keeper Rahmati.

Juninho then exhibited great calm under pressure when he stole the ball from the feet of Toure with the striker set to pull the trigger from six yards out.

In the 73rd minute, Sepahan’s Mohsen Bengar curled in a swinging free-kick from distance that team-mate Enyati diverted just too high.

Al Ittihad became the first side to book their place in the last 16 of the 2011 AFC Champions League as a goalless draw with Al Wahda at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium gave them the point they needed to ensure they can finish no lower than second in Group C.

The result means the Saudis retain top spot with ten points, five points ahead of closest challengers Bunyodkor following the Uzbeks’ shock 3-1 win over Piroozi in Tehran. Al Wahda move ahead of the Iranians in third on three points with two matches left to play.

Saleh Al Saqri had the game’s first chance after just four minutes when he pounced on a loose ball inside the box and fired a fierce drive that Al Wahda keeper Mutaz Abdulla did well to beat away.

Abdelmalik Ziaya then headed Mohammed Noor’s cross over the bar at the far post nine minutes later before Al Wahda striker Ismaeil Matar shot from distance in the 26th minute but keeper Mabrouk Zaid gathered easily.

The second-half followed a similar pattern to the first in that Al Ittihad controlled proceedings but could not break down the resilient visitors.

Ziaya almost sneaked through in the 66th minute but Abdulla did enough to thwart the forward while at the other end, Hugo drove forward and unleashed a fierce strike from distance that flashed just past Zaid’s post.

Mohamed Al Shehhi led a rare foray forward for Al Wahda in the 77th minute when he cut inside a defender but his low shot was well held by Zaid.

Yuzo Tashiro’s goal saw Kashima Antlers rescue a 1-1 draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group H of the 2011 AFC Champions League at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Suwon went ahead in the 48th minute through Yeom Ki-hoon’s free-kick but Tashiro leveled for Kashima in the 55th minute.

Playing at the National Stadium due to damage to Kashima’s home ground following last month’s earthquake, the top two teams in Group H battled hard throughout the contest.

Their first notable opening came in the 26th minute when Takuya Nozawa fired narrowly wide from just outside the box.

Suwon, who were held to a 1-1 draw in the first game in Korea two weeks ago, created a couple of chances late in the first-half through Ha Tae-goon and Yeom on the counter but Ha’s effort was denied by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata while Yeom’s shot was off target.

The game then came alive soon after the break.

Suwon won a free-kick after Park Jong-jin, on for forward Choi Sung-kuk, was fouled just outside the box and Yeom found the right corner of the net with a left-footed effort to give the visitors the lead.

Kashima responded quickly and seven minutes later they leveled the scores, also from a set piece. Midfielder Takeshi Aoki was brought down outside the box on the right and Nozawa took the free-kick, delivering a cross towards substitute Yasushi Endo at the far post. The young midfielder knocked the ball to forward Tashiro, who tapped in from close range.

Goals from Mu Kanazaki and Kensuke Nagai gave Nagoya Grampus a 2-0 win at FC Seoul to put the Japanese champions on top of Group F in the 2011 AFC Champions League.

After Kanazaki’s first-half opener, the Korea Republic title-holders threw everything at the visitors for much of an entertaining match but a defensive blunder late in the game allowed Nagai to make sure of a valuable three points.

In the 26th minute, the Japanese team were ahead. A ball was played behind the defence for Ogawa to shoot from just outside the six-yard box. Goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae blocked the initial shot but could do little as Kanazaki was first to the loose ball and hammered it into the net from close range.

After the setback, Seoul began to look more dangerous. On the half-hour, Narazaki was struggling once again to keep out a long-range Server Djeparov shot but ultimately managed to keep the Korea Republic team at bay.

FC Seoul had a great chance just before the break. Damjanovic headed the ball back to Molina just inside the area and the former Colombia international had time to pick his spot but dragged his low shot wide of the Nagoya left-hand post.

In the second-half, Seoul continued to have the lion’s share of possession and shots but were unable to find the end product. However just when Seoul’s pressure looked set to tell, a defensive blunder allowed Nagoya to seal the win with eight minutes remaining.

Kim Tae-hwan’s backpass in the direction of the goalkeeper was never going to reach its intended target and Nagai nipped in to slide the ball into an empty net to end the game.

A solitary goal from Esmaeil Farhadi gave Zob Ahan a 1-0 win over Al Rayyan at the Foolad Shahr Stadium to send last season’s runners-up top of 2011 AFC Champions League Group D and on the verge of a place in the last 16.

The hosts’ first chance was fired over the bar by Igor Castro in the 11th minute and home keeper Shahab Gordan denied Al Rayyan an opener three minutes later. Rodrigo Tabata fired a free-kick into Zob Ahan’s six-yard box which eluded his team-mates but looked set to curl straight in only for Gordan to react well and keep out his effort.

Zob Ahan started to take control of the game and Igor Castro set up Mehdi Rajabzadeh, whose side-footed strike flew wide, before Mahini’s long-range effort was gathered by Soud Al Hajiri in the Rayyan goal.

Their efforts were rewarded a minute later when Mahini ran onto a long ball and dummied a defender before setting up Farhadi, who fired past the keeper into the far corner.

Zob Ahan picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, Jalal Rafkhaei’s shot unsuccessful before defender Mohammad Hosseini tested Al Hajiri, who turned the ball away for a corner.

But Gordan had to be alert at the other end to kick away a dangerous cross from before an Al Rayyan attacker could get a touch.

Rodrigo’s effort from the edge of the box was gathered by Gordan as the away side pressed for an equaliser, and Zob Ahan failed to make the game safe when Al Hajiri raced out to intercept Farhadi’s through ball.

Rodrigo saw another long-range effort deflected over before Al Hajiri kept out Khalatbari’s free-kick.

Egor Krimets’ header two minutes from time breathed new life into Pakhtakor’s 2011 AFC Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Esteghlal at Pakhtakor Stadium.

Arash Borhani had cancelled out Stanislav Andreev’s superb 28th minute opener in first-half stoppage-time but with the Group B game seemingly heading for a draw following a low-key second-half, Hanif Omranzadeh was sent-off for two bookable offences and from the resulting free-kick, Krimets struck to haul Pakhtakor level with the Iranians on four points.

It was a game that Pakhtakor needed to win and they were first to threaten after two minutes when Esteghlal keeper Mohammad Mohammadi had to tip Sherzodbek Karimov’s dipping cross behind.

Pakhtakor’s young keeper was involved in all of the early action and in the 20th minute palmed the ball over the bar after Omranzadeh’s long throw had flicked off a Pakhtakor defender before repeating the trick to deny a header from the following corner.

Pakhtakor then took the lead in the 28th minute in stunning fashion. A cross picked out Andreev unmarked on the edge of the box and although his first-time volley hit Pejman Montazeri, the striker displayed exquisite technique to hook the rebound – again on the volley – over his shoulder and in off the far post with Mohammadi reduced to a mere spectator.

Esteghlal drew level in first-half stoppage time when Hawar Mohammed’s beautiful flick released Javad Shirzadeh down the left and his cross towards the near post was cleverly guided past Ribkin from close range by Borhani.

The second-half had few chances but Ribkin almost gifted Esteghlal a second in the 53rd minute when he needlessly came charging off his line. Borhani easily eluded the Pakhtakor keeper and only a brilliant block by Akbarjon Ismatullaev saved a certain goal.

As the second half drew to a close Omranzadeh was sent-off with two minutes to go and the Esteghlal defence failed to pick up Krimets at the set-piece, allowing the defender to nod home unmarked from inside the six-yard box.

An excellent last-gasp winner from Mark Bridge kept Sydney FC’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2011 AFC Champions League well and truly alive after they secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Shanghai Shenhua at Shanghai Hongkou Stadium.

Bruno Cazarine struck twice as the Sky Blues picked up their first win in the Group H campaign, though they had to twice come back from one goal down before Bridge’s decisive intervention in stoppage time.

Jiang Jiajun put the hosts ahead after only eight minutes before Cazarine cancelled out the strike during first-half stoppage time.

An own goal from Scott Jamieson saw Shanghai restore their lead seven minutes after the break but Cazarine hauled the hosts back a minute before the hour mark with a composed effort. Bridge then gave the visitors all three points with a spectacular volley.

The Sky Blues narrowed the gap between pacesetters Kashima Antlers and Suwon Samsung Samsung Bluewings to only one point with two games to go after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Tokyo.

Shanghai had the first chance after four minutes when Colombian striker Duvier Riascos broke clear down the right before sending a low cross for Jiang Jiajun to stab wide from 10 yards.

The hosts took the lead soon after when Jiang Kun smartly clipped a free-kick from the left towards the unmarked Jiang Jiajun, who cut into the box before steering the ball past keeper Liam Reddy.

Bridge created the first meaningful action for the visitors with a long-range effort after 15 minutes but it flew wide.

On the stroke of half-hour mark, Shannon Cole picked out Matthew Jurman with a well-weighted free-kick only for the defender to head the ball over the frame of the goal.

However, Sydney equalised In the dying minutes of the first period. Cole delivered a cross into the path of Cazarine and he calmly finished past the onrushing Qiu Shengjiong with just the Shanghai keeper to beat.

The hosts immediately forged down the other end and Luis Salmeron set-up Riascos with a well-timed pass but the Colombian powered the ball over from 15 yards.

Riascos threatened Reddy with a 25-yard curling shot shortly after the break but his effort was off target.

Shanghai then went in front for a second time as Jiang Kun fired a cross across the face of goal and Jamieson headed the ball past Reddy into his own net under pressure from Salmeron.

The visitors levelled seven minutes later when Bridge headed Terry McFlynn’s cross to Cazarine, who smartly chested the ball down before beating Qiu with an excellent finish.
But with the game seemingly heading for a draw, Bridge struck a dramatic winner, volleying Dimitri Petratos’ header into the bottom corner to give Sydney three much-needed points.