Jaralla AlMarri (right) of Qatar’s Al Rayyan fights for the ball with Mohammed AlMarshadi of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal during their AFC Champions League match at the Al Rayyan Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Al Rayyan lost 2-0.
SINGAPORE: Australia’s Central Coast Mariners reached the AFC Champions League knock-out phase for the first time in their history yesterday despite being thrashed 3-0 by Kashiwa Reysol.
Second-half goals from Masato Kudo, Cleo, and Leandro Domingues left the Mariners with their hearts in their mouths but Suwon Bluewings did the Australian side a favour by hanging on for a 2-2 draw with Guizhou Renhe.
China’s Guizhou equalised in the 87th minute but they could not find the all-important winner that would have taken them through at the Mariners’ expense behind Kashiwa, who were already qualified as winners of Group H.
“That softens the blow a little bit, but Kashiwa are a quality side,” said Mariners coach Graham Arnold.
“I thought we played very well up until the first goal and we had a chance with one getting cleared off the line but Kashiwa played very well. We’re through to the last 16 that’s the main thing. “We’re thankful to Suwon for helping us tonight.”
In Group G, Beijing Guoan and Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor also sealed their places in next month’s round of 16 as the final week of group games got into full swing.
Beijing ground out a 0-0 scoreline against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who were already eliminated, while Bunyodkor’s game with Pohang Steelers finished 1-1.
The results mean Bunyodkor finish top of Group G with 10 points, ahead of Beijing in second spot. With Marcello Lippi’s Guangzhou Evergrande already qualified, China has more than one team in the last 16 for the first time since 2005.
Pohang scored a 93rd-minute equaliser through Park Sung-Ho but it was far from enough as they needed to beat Bunyodkor by two goals to progress.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal moved into the last 16, defeating Al Rayyan 2-0 thanks to an own goal by Mohamed Al Aaeldin and a diving header from Saad Al Harthi to edge out Al Ain in Group D and progress to the tournament..
The win moved Al Hilal onto 12 points from their six group matches and leaves them a point behind Iranian side Esteghlal, who win the group.
Elsewhere, Sepahan ended their campaign on a positive note as goals by Amid Jahanalian, Mohammad Gholami and Mohammad Reza Khalatbari led the three-time Iranian champions to a 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al Gharafa. AGENCIES
