Ahli Club Jeddah recorded a vital away win by defeating hosts Al-Nasr of the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in the AFC Champions League at the Al-Maktoum Stadium here Tuesday. Dominating the game almost throughout Al-Ahli led 1-0 by the break through a 27th minute goal by Victor Simoes. The Jeddah club tightened its grip by making it 2-0 in the 50th minute by Tayseer Al-Jasem. Host saved its face with a consolation goal in the 52th minute by Amara Diane. In the other Group C game, Sepahan of Iran defeated Lekhwiya of Qatar 2-1. In Group A, Al-Jazira of UAE beat Iranian outfit Esteghlal 2-1. Juma Abdulla's header gave the visitors the lead but the hosts levelled through Ferydoon Zandi before two Brazilians combined for the winner – Ricardo Oliveira setting up Bare 18 minutes from the final whistle. In the other Group A game, Al-Rayyan of Qatar routed Nasaf of Uzbekistan 3-1. Australian A-League leader Central Coast Mariners held 2010 Asian Champions League winner Seongnam Ilhwa to a 1-1 draw in Group G. Minutes after hitting the far post with a powerful strike from the left, Adam Kwasnik gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute when he finished off an attacking movement started by Daniel McBreen. Seongnam equalized quickly with Everton Santos exposing some weaknesses in the Mariners defense, and missed a chance to take the lead when Heverton Alves hit the crossbar with his penalty shot after Josh Rose was red-carded for what appeared to be a rugby tackle on an attacker inside the area. In Group E matches, 2008 champion Gamba Osaka ended a two-match ACL losing streak with a convincing 3-1 win over Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor, and Korean powerhouse Pohang Steelers ended Adelaide United's two-match winning run with a 1-0 victory at home. A 68th-minute goalkeeping blunder by Eugene Galekovic, who fumbled a free kick, cost Adelaide, which now shares the lead with Pohang halfway through the group stage. Skipper Yusuhito Endo scored with a long-range strike in the 14th minute for Gamba and Rafinha converted penalties in the 58th and 77th to ensure the result for the J-League club. Anvarjon Soliev scored a late consolation goal in the 88th minute to reduce the margin. “This is our first win and I am delighted,” said club manager Masanobu Matsunami. “The players have had to adapt to change and were under pressure but they tried to play Gamba's style until the end. Gamba remains bottom of Group E on goal difference but just three points shy of 2009 champion Pohang and Adelaide, the 2008 runner-up, who have six points each at the top. Nagoya Grampus stormed to the top of Group G at the halfway stage with an emphatic 3-0 away win over China's Tianjin Teda.
