FC Seoul, El Jaish remain 100% perfect in ACL

Published on: 17 March 2016

Korea Republic’s FC Seoul and Qatar’s El Jaish maintained their 100% records in the AFC Champions League this week, while defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande are still searching for a first win after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.

Brazilian striker Adriano took his AFC Champions League tally to nine goals in just three games after netting twice as FC Seoul recorded an impressive 4-1 win over China’s Shandong Luneng on Wednesday in Group F.

Dejan Damjanovic and Go Yo-han also scored at Jinan Olympic Sport Centre as 2013 finalists FC Seoul added to earlier wins over Thailand’s Buriram United and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

“We were aware that Shandong is a good team with talented players including foreign ones. They are a good opponent, but our win is based on team work. I hope we can keep this status and repeat what we presented,” said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.

“Our players have been extremely concentrated, and their attitude and spirit were perfect. We managed to control the pace of the game. It is unfortunate for Shandong that they only scored once, but I think they haven't been in their best shape yet.”

The win leaves FC Seoul three points clear of Shandong at the top of the table after the Chinese Super League side saw their own perfect record ended, with Sanfrecce a further three points off the pace in third after the J.League champions picked up their first points of the campaign with a 3-0 win over Buriram thanks to two goals from Takuma Asano.

El Jaish, meanwhile, maintained their perfect start to the campaign as Sardor Rashidov scored against fellow Uzbeks Nasaf three minutes from time to secure a third win in a row for the Qatar Stars League side.

“This is the third victory for us in the group and it will give us a big push to continue with the same momentum,” said El Jaish coach Sabri Lamouchi, whose team are now six points clear at the top of the table.

“We were determined to get a victory and despite that the goal was late, the most important thing is the three points.”

Nasaf are joined on three points by Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia and former champions Al Ain from the United Arab Emirates after a free -kick from captain Omar Abdulrahman sealed the win for Al Ain against Al Ahli.

Guangzhou, meanwhile, find themselves two points adrift at the bottom of Group H after substitute Shinzo Koroki struck with just over a minute remaining as Japan’s Urawa denied the defending champions a first win of this year’s competition after snatching a 2-2 draw on Wednesday. 

Australia’s Sydney FC lead the way in Group H after Chris Naumoff scored the only goal just before half-time to secure a 1-0 win over Korea’s Pohang Steelers, who are two points adrift in second alongside Urawa.

Fellow A-League side Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, are just a point behind Group G pacesetters Shanghai SIPG despite behind held to a goalless draw by Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

AFC Champions League debutants Shanghai lead the way after Brazilian forward Elkeson scored twice to secure a 2-1 win over Japan’s Gamba Osaka at Shanghai Stadium.

Elsewhere, K League Classic champions Jeonbuk Motors returned to winning ways in Group E on Tuesday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium after recording a hard-fought 2-0 win over Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong thanks to goals from Brazilian striker Ricardo Lopes and Lee Dong-gook.

Jeonbuk lead the way with a one point cushion over Jiangsu FC after the Chinese Super League side played out a goalless draw with Japan’s FC Tokyo, who sit a further point adrift in third.

In the West, a stunning goal from forward Igor Sergeev gave Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor a 1-0 win over Tractorsazi Tabriz in Group C.

And with Tractorsazi losing their 100% record, Al Hilal were denied the chance to move to the top of the standings as Farez Juma’s late equaliser earned Al Jazira a 1-1 draw at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

Juma’s header in the final seconds of the game cancelled out Ailton’s ninth minute opener to ensure the teams shared the points to leave unbeaten Al Hilal a point adrift of Tractorsazi in second place, with Pakhtakor third.

And in Group A, Brazilian forward Nilmar scored twice as Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, while Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv claimed a first win of this year’s AFC Champions League after goals from Marat Bikmaev and Sardor Mirzayev secured a 2-0 win over Iran’s Sepahan.

Finally in Group B, Al Nassr had a late penalty from Ibrahim Ghaleb to thank for salvaging a point in their 1-1 draw with Qatar’s Lekhwiya, with the draw ensuring the Saudi Arabian side go into the second half of the group phase on top of the standings with five points.

Al Nassr are joined at the top of Group B by Iran’s Zobahan, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Bunyodkor, who are on two points after three games alongside Lekhwiya.

Photo: Lagardère Sports

 

Source: the-afc.com

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