TEHRAN — Persepolis will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their AFC Champions League Round of 16 meeting with Al-Hilal next week, but the Iranians had goalkeeper Sousha Makani to thank for keeping them in the tie at a packed Azadi Stadium Tuesday. An own goal from Digao in stoppage time gave Persepolis the win but it was Makani's heroics that kept out an Al-Hilal side that had struggled in the opening 45 minutes before creating the best of the opportunities after the interval. The finest came three minutes from time when Makani dived full stretch to his right to push Nawaf Al-Abid's goal-bound free kick to safety before Brazilian defender Digao slipped Mehdi Taremi's cross over the line to give Persepolis the advantage ahead of the second leg. In the night match Qatar's Lekhwiya edged its compatriot Al-Sadd 2-1. Earlier, a ragged second-half performance from South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors allowed Beijing Guoan to earn a 1-1 draw in their first leg clash, while Suwon Bluewings went down 3-2 at home to Kashiwa Reysol. Korean champion Jeonbuk, which has been dominant in the league again this season, started brightly at Jeonju World Cup stadium and took the lead in the 13th minute when Kim Ki-hee rose to flick home Leonardo's free kick. Jeonbuk seemed to be content to play on the break in the second half, allowing Beijing to dominate the midfield, and it should have gone 2-0 up in the 78th minute. With Beijing caught upfield, a quick move sent Leonardo clean through on goal but the Brazilian speedster blazed over with just the goalkeeper to beat. Jeonbuk, Asian champion in 2006, failed to heed the warnings as Beijing pressed for an equalizer and it arrived in the 85rd minute via the penalty spot after Erton Fejzullahu went down in the box. Pablo Martin Batalla made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Kwon Soon-tae the wrong way. In Suwon, the Bluewings got off to the best possible start when Yeom Ki-hoon diverted Jong Tae-se's cross home in the second minute. However, its Japanese opponent hit back 10 minutes later when Leandro sprung the offside trap with a clipped ball over the top and Akimi Barada beat Jung Sung-ryong at his near post. Kashiwa went 2-1 up in the 30th minute when Leandro scored from a penalty, and worse was to come for the home fans when the Japanese side scored again 10 minutes after the break, Leandro again doing the damage after neat work from Cristiano. Striker Jong pulled one back just before the hour with a flying header from Yeom's cross, but Suwon was unable to find a third and will travel to Japan for the return leg next week needing a win to advance to the quarterfinals. — Agencies
