Kuala Lumpur: The 2017 AFC Champions League witnessed arguably its most exciting round of fixtures on Matchday Five with high-scoring games and magic moments as seven more teams joined Jiangsu FC in the Round of 16.
As the group stage gets set to reach a thrilling finale, the-AFC.com looks back at the week that was to highlight some of the stand-out statistics from the continent’s leading club competition.
Hat-trick hero
Marat Bikmaev’s treble for Lokomotiv on Tuesday was the first hat-trick in this year’s AFC Champions League, although the Uzbek side failed to pick up all three points in an end-to-end 4-4 draw in Group A with Al Taawoun.
Back of the net
A total of 63 goals flew in across the eight groups on Matchday Five, eclipsing the previous weekly high of 62 on Matchday Two, and well above the 49.2 average in this year’s continental competition.
Master passer
Kengo Nakamura made an impressive 105 successful passes – 15 more than compatriot Daisuke Nasu of Urawa Red Diamonds – as Kawasaki Frontale ended a run of four successive draws to defeat Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 in Group G on Tuesday.
No way past
Goalkeeper Khalid Eisa made 10 saves, four more than second-placed Jung Sung-ryong of Kawasaki, in Al Ain’s 3-0 win at Zobahan on Monday as the Emirati team advanced to the last 16 with a game to spare.
Up for the fight
Persepolis won a weekly – and tournament – high of 87 duels in their scoreless draw in Group D with Al Hilal, who came joint second with Kawasaki in winning 64 duels. None of the three conceded.
Flagged up
Zobahan striker Morteza Tabrizi was caught offside five times in his team’s 3-0 defeat to Al Ain which was not only more than any other player this week, but also the highest of any individual on a single Matchday.
Six of the worst
Al Wahda missed six big chances – out of 16 in total – against Al Rayyan on Monday although that figure is less alarming when considering they ran out 5-1 victors to ensure a first win of the campaign and notch the highest tally of goals by a team in the West.
How Al Wahda laid siege to Al Rayyan goal
Rebellious Ramires
Jiangsu FC captain Ramires conceded three more fouls (8) than any other player on the continent as the Chinese Super League side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Jeju United in Group H on Tuesday. He eventually received a booking in the 84th minute.
Heads up
Rustamjon Ashurmatov was kept busy on Monday, making 10 headed clearances – and 15 clearances in total – as Bunyodkor finally brought an end to an 18-game winless streak in seeing off Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Group C.
Rustamjon Ashurmatov clearances help Bunyodkor claim first win in 19
King Kawin
Muangthong United custodian Kawin Thamsatchanan’s clean sheet in his team’s 3-0 victory over Brisbane Roar on Wednesday that confirmed a first-ever Round of 16 appearance was his fourth in five games as the Thai champions' defence proves the toughest to breach on the continent.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com