Qatar’s El Jaish became the first side to secure qualification for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League this week despite being held to a goalless draw by Uzbekistan’s Nasaf on Tuesday.
Having won their first three games in Group D, the point from the tie in Karshi proved enough for Sabri Lamouchi’s side after Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli 2-1 in Jeddah.
Al Ain are four points behind El Jaish with Nasaf and Al Ahli third and fourth with two rounds of group stage ties remaining.
"I am satisfied with our performance and result as Nasaf is a strong team," said El Jaish coach Lamouchi.
"Our plan was for victory, but the minimum target was to take a point. We will focus on the next games and then think about the next stage."
Thailand’s Buriram, though, saw their chances of reaching the last 16 ended with their 2-0 Group F defeat to Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Tuesday at Buriram Stadium after goals in either half from Takumi Miyayoshi and Kosei Shibasaki extended the Thai champions run of consecutive continental defeats to four.
The win moved Sanfrecce to within a point of China’s Shandong Luneng who occupy second place having shared a goalless draw with leaders FC Seoul in the Korea Republic.
But there was better news for Southeast Asian football in Group E where Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong came from behind to defeat 2006 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from Korea 3-2 at Binh Duong Stadium on Wednesday.
And with Japan’s FC Tokyo recording a 2-1 win over Jiangsu FC in China, the J.League side moved a point clear of Jeonbuk at the top of the table.
“I’m sure that no one thought we could get this result because Jeonbuk is stronger than us, but it happened and we deserved to win,” said Binh Duong coach Nguyen Thanh Son.
“The whole team played well today and it was a really good game against a tough Jeonbuk team.”
Also in the east, Wu Lei and Lu Wenjun scored as Chinese Super League debutants Shanghai SIPG remained on course for a place in the last 16 after edging out Japan’s Gamba Osaka 2-0 in Group G on Wednesday.
Melbourne Victory remain in pole position to join leaders Shanghai after their hard-fought 1-1 away draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings keeps the A-League side three points ahead of the third-placed Koreans.
Reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande, meanwhile, suffered a blow to their title defence aspirations as Yuki Muto’s second half goal helped Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds defeat Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side in Group H on Tuesday to leave the Chinese Super League side on the brink of elimination.
With Guangzhou remaining bottom of the group on two points from four games, Sydney FC’s 1-0 win against Korea’s Pohang Steelers sees the Australians strengthen their chances of a first ever place in the Round of 16 with second placed Urawa now three points clear of the K-League Classic side.
And in Group A, Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv are also closing in on a maiden appearance in the last 16 after Temurkhuja Abdukholikov’s strike secured a 1-0 win over Sepahan and preserved their undefeated record.
Two-time champions Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win of the 2016 campaign after they were held to a goalless draw by Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates.
The result moves Al Nasr on to seven points and closer to the Round of 16 while Al Ittihad – champions in 2004 and 2005 – have just three points.
Having scored just one goal in their first three games in the group stage, Zobahan exploded into life on Matchday Four as the Iranian side recorded an entertaining 5-2 win over Bunyodkor.
Zobahan’s win, coupled with Al Nassr’s 4-0 loss at the hands of Lekhwiya in Doha, moved the Iranian side three points clear at the top of Group B with just two games remaining.
Finally in Group C, Tractorsazi Tabriz’s 2-0 win over Pakhtakor moved the Iranian side closer to the next phase of the competition, while Al Hilal held on to second place in the group thanks to their 1-0 victory over Al Jazira.
That result means Al Jazira, who have picked up just one point so far in the campaign, can no longer progress to the tournament’s last 16.
Tractorsazi top the group with nine points, one more than Al Hilal, with Pakhtakor in third on four points with two games remaining.
Photo: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com