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Asian Champions League Review: No Victory For Melbourne While Jeonbuk Motor Cruise Comfortably
Aussies go down in Beijing but 'Big Phil' gets off to a flying start...
Feb 23, 2010 6:24:00 PM
By Rupert Fryer
The 2010 Asian Champions League kicked off today, with sixteen teams from around the continent hoping to start their ACL campaign with a bang.
Group A
Al Jazira 1-2 Al Gharafa
Al Ahli 1-2 Esteghlal
Qatari club Al-Gharafa grabbed a fantastic win in Abu Dhabi, beating Al Jazira thanks to goals from Moroccan midfielder Otmane El Assas and Iraqi striker Younis Mahmoud. Try as they might, Al Jazira’s prestigious Brazilian frontline of former AC Milan man Ricardo Oliveira and Rafael Sobis couldn’t claw their side back into the game, despite Sobis pulling a goal back shortly before the hour mark.
In Group A’s second fixture, Saudi Premier League side Al-Ahli went down 2-1 at home to Iranian champions Esteghlal, with Iranian international Farhad Majidi grabbing a brace for the visitors.
Group B
Bunyodkor 3-0 Al Ittihad
Zob Ahan 1-0 Al Wahda
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Bunyodkor got off to a flyer as his side breezed past last year’s runners up Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Former FIFA World Player of the Year Rivaldo hit a 25-yarder to set the Uzbek champions on their way before Jasur Hasanov doubled their lead. Al Ittihad started poorly and were on the ropes from the outset, the game already over when former Pohang Steelers forward and star of last year’s ACL, Denilson added a third.
In the other game from Group B, Iranian Hazfi Cup champions Zob Ahan edged past 2007 ACL semi-finalists Al Wahda thanks to a 60th minute winner from their star man, Brazilian Igor Castro.
Group E
Beijing Guoan 1-0 Melbourne Victory
Seongnam Ilhwa 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale
Former Aussie international Joel Griffiths’ 52nd minute strike was enough to upset his compatriots at the Beijing Workers’ stadium today as the Victory went home empty handed. Some tidy build-up play from Guoan ended with Griffiths controlling well before slotting the ball between the legs of Mitchell Langerak in the Victory goal.
Over in South Korea, Seongnam Ilhwa celebrated their fourth appearance in the ACL with a comfortable two goal victory over Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. Former Santos and San Lorenzo midfielder Mauricio Molina was the star of the show, scoring the first and laying on the second for Dzenan Radoncic.
Group F
Persipura Jayapura 1-4 Jeonbuk Motors
Kashima Antlers 1–0 Changchun Yatai
2006 ACL champions Jeonbuk Motors kicked off their campaign with a comprehensive victory in Indonesia over reigning Super League champions Persipura Jayapura. It was a miserable ACL debut for the Indonesians as Jeonbuk’s new Croatian striker Krunoslav Lovrek grabbed a hat-trick in Jakarta.
In Kashima, the Antlers beat Chinese side Changchun Yatai who were beginning only their second ever ACL campaign. Former Marseille midfielder Koji Nakata grabbed the game’s only goal a few minutes before the break.
Group A
Al Jazira 1-2 Al Gharafa
Al Ahli 1-2 Esteghlal
Qatari club Al-Gharafa grabbed a fantastic win in Abu Dhabi, beating Al Jazira thanks to goals from Moroccan midfielder Otmane El Assas and Iraqi striker Younis Mahmoud. Try as they might, Al Jazira’s prestigious Brazilian frontline of former AC Milan man Ricardo Oliveira and Rafael Sobis couldn’t claw their side back into the game, despite Sobis pulling a goal back shortly before the hour mark.
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In Group A’s second fixture, Saudi Premier League side Al-Ahli went down 2-1 at home to Iranian champions Esteghlal, with Iranian international Farhad Majidi grabbing a brace for the visitors.
Group B
Bunyodkor 3-0 Al Ittihad
Zob Ahan 1-0 Al Wahda
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Bunyodkor got off to a flyer as his side breezed past last year’s runners up Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Former FIFA World Player of the Year Rivaldo hit a 25-yarder to set the Uzbek champions on their way before Jasur Hasanov doubled their lead. Al Ittihad started poorly and were on the ropes from the outset, the game already over when former Pohang Steelers forward and star of last year’s ACL, Denilson added a third.
In the other game from Group B, Iranian Hazfi Cup champions Zob Ahan edged past 2007 ACL semi-finalists Al Wahda thanks to a 60th minute winner from their star man, Brazilian Igor Castro.
Group E
Beijing Guoan 1-0 Melbourne Victory
Seongnam Ilhwa 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale
Former Aussie international Joel Griffiths’ 52nd minute strike was enough to upset his compatriots at the Beijing Workers’ stadium today as the Victory went home empty handed. Some tidy build-up play from Guoan ended with Griffiths controlling well before slotting the ball between the legs of Mitchell Langerak in the Victory goal.
Over in South Korea, Seongnam Ilhwa celebrated their fourth appearance in the ACL with a comfortable two goal victory over Kawasaki Frontale of Japan. Former Santos and San Lorenzo midfielder Mauricio Molina was the star of the show, scoring the first and laying on the second for Dzenan Radoncic.
Group F
Persipura Jayapura 1-4 Jeonbuk Motors
Kashima Antlers 1–0 Changchun Yatai
2006 ACL champions Jeonbuk Motors kicked off their campaign with a comprehensive victory in Indonesia over reigning Super League champions Persipura Jayapura. It was a miserable ACL debut for the Indonesians as Jeonbuk’s new Croatian striker Krunoslav Lovrek grabbed a hat-trick in Jakarta.
In Kashima, the Antlers beat Chinese side Changchun Yatai who were beginning only their second ever ACL campaign. Former Marseille midfielder Koji Nakata grabbed the game’s only goal a few minutes before the break.
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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