TASHKENT — Polish midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski was on target to secure a 1-0 victory for Saudi League champions Al-Nasr against already eliminated Bunyodkor in Group A of the AFC Champions League Wednesday and maintain its hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16 for only the second time. The Saudi side went into the match at the Bunyodkor Stadium knowing that defeat could see it eliminated with one game still to play, but took the lead just after the half hour mark through Mierzejewski's second goal of the group phase. Uzbek side had defender Anvar Gafurov sent off with 20 minutes to play and Al-Nasr held out for a priceless victory that ensures it goes into its final match of the group campaign against Qatar Stars League champion Lekhwiya knowing that a win will guarantee its passage to the last 16. Lekhwiya blanked Piroozi of Iran 3-0. Goals from Eduardo and Kosuke Taketomi helped Kashiwa Reysol overcome former winner Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 and claim top spot in Group E thereby securing its passage to the Round of 16. After a disappointing 1-1 draw with Vietnam's Becamex Binh Duong on Matchday Four, K-League Classic champion Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee recalled eight players for the match at the Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium but it was the Japanese side which had the better of the opening stages and went in front inside 10 minutes through a fine header from Eduardo. And the 2013 semifinalist went into the halftime break with a 3-0 advantage after two goals from Taketomi, the first a wonderful individual effort and the second a finish from close in after good work from Brazilian forward Christiano, looked to have given it a comfortable lead. But the Koreans came out stronger and scored twice through captain Lee Dong-gook — who is now all-time leading scorer in the AFC Champions League with 27 goals — but despite a late rally, Kashiwa was able to hold on to advance to the next stage. In South Korea, goals from Kim Do-heon and Nam Jae-joon gave Seongnam a 2-1 win over Buriram United and control of Group F. In other games, Shandong Luneng of China thrashed Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam 3-1; Gamba Osaka of Japan routed Guangzhou of China 5-0; and Naft Tehran and Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan drew 1-1 . — Agencies
