AL-AIN — Al-Ain enjoyed an excellent start in Group D of the AFC Champions League as it came from behind to beat 10-man Al-Hilal 3-1 in their opening match here Wednesday. Abdulla Al-Dosary gave the Saudi visitors the lead after nine minutes, but Omar Abdulrahman leveled with a sublime volley in the 27th minute and Australian striker Alex Brosque then put the United Arab Emirates league champion ahead almost immediately after the half-time interval. Salem Al-Dawsari was sent off for denying Brosque a goal-scoring opportunity in the 55th minute and although Midel Radoi's resulting spot kick was saved, substitute Asamoah Gyan sealed the win with a stunner in stoppage time. The 10-men Hilal rarely threatened an equalizer as the home side kept the pressure on with both Radoi and Brosque going close. Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor provided the biggest upset of this year's fledgling AFC Champions League when it shocked J-League title-holder Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 away Wednesday. Despite last year's run to the semifinals the Uzbek cup-winner was considered underdog against the Japanese champion, but a late goal in each half made it worthy winner in Hiroshima. Oleksandr Pyshur struck on the stroke of half-time to put the visitors ahead but it wasn't until the 86th minute that Bunyodkor could be sure of the win, when Fozil Musaev doubled its advantage. The victory extends Bunyodkor's fine form in the Asian competition after it overturned three former champions last year before being halted by eventual winner Ulsan Hyundai in the last four. Elsewhere on day two, Kashiwa Reysol registered the first Japanese win when ex-Guangzhou Evergrande striker Cleo, returning to China to face Guizhou Renhe, was on target in the first half to secure a 1-0 victory. As Tuesday's flood of goals quickly dried up, 2009 winner Pohang Steelers was held 0-0 by Beijing Guoan and Australia's Central Coast Mariners and Suwon Bluewings also finished goalless. In a frantic finish in Pohang, Beijing midfielder Joffre Guerron fired against the crossbar. For the Steelers, Kim Won-Il missed a golden chance and Hwang Jin-Sung twice went close with headers, but nobody could break the deadlock. Earlier the Mariners, Australia's only team in the competition, looked sure to secure all the points at its home ground in Gosford when Kwak Kwang-Seon handled inside the box in the final minutes. However, Nick Montgomery's effort was saved, leaving it all square after the Mariners failed to capitalize on a number of chances against the 2011 semifinalist. The pan-Asian league, now entering its second decade, features 32 teams from 10 different countries. The group phase ends in early May but the two-legged final will not take place until November. Among Wednesday's matches, Iran's Sepahan beat Al-Nasr of the UAE 3-0; and Al-Rayyan of Qatar drew with Esteghlal of Iran 3-3. — Agencies
