Sepahan of Iran defeated Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Wednesday in Group A of the Asian Champions League. Mohammad Mahdi Seyed Salehi gave Sepahan, last year's runner-up, the lead from close range in the 61st minute. Hadi Aghili made it 2-0 in the 72nd. Al-Ittihad scored a consolation goal in the 89th through Talal Al-Meshal. Ealsewhere, Japan's Brazilian influence shone through as Kashima Antlers scored a crucial win over Beijing Guoan, while Gamba Osaka edged Melbourne Victory in a seven-goal thriller. With only one side from each of the seven groups progressing to the quarterfinals - where they will be joined by another Japanese team, defending champion Urawa Reds - ensuring the three points was critical. Kashima's 1-0 win put them in control of Group F on nine points, three clear of Beijing with three games to play. Gamba's pulsating 4-3 triumph in Melbourne leaves them in charge of Group G. Brazilian striker Danilo was Kashima's hero, scoring the only goal of the game eight minutes into the second half against a Beijing side that played for almost an hour with 10 men after Zhou Ting was sent off. Despite being a man short, Beijing had a glorious chance to level in the 57th minute with a penalty but Hitoshi Sogahata saved from Brazilian Tiago. Beijing, who like Kashima went into the game with a perfect record, has a chance to redeem itself on April 23 when the teams meet again in the Chinese capital. In the same group, Thailand's Krung Thai Bank bagged its first points of the campaign in emphatic fashion, crushing hapless Vietnamese side Nam Dinh 9-1 in Bangkok. Krung had been on the end of a 9-1 hammering themselves by Kashima in its first game of the championships and then lost 4-2 to Beijing, but it all clicked against Nam Dinh. Kassim Kone scored four goals, Nantawat Thaensopa snared a hat trick, and additional efforts from Pichitpong Choechiu and Thanut Wongsuparak earned them one of the best victories in their history. In Melbourne, Brazilian substitute Lucas headed home a 90th minute winner for Gamba Osaka that put a huge dent in the Australian side's hopes of making the knockout stage. Victory took the lead on four minutes when Danny Allsopp slotted home after Gamba goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya failed to collect a Billy Celeski effort. The Japanese outfit leveled just after half an hour when Takahiro Futagawa picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and unleashed a stunning drive. Powerful Brazilian striker Jader Volnei Spindler then stunned the hosts when he put Gamba ahead in the 39th minute, heading home a corner. But Melbourne bounced straight back through Rodrigo Vargas, regaining the lead when Allsopp climbed to send a looping header into the back of the net. In a see-saw match, Gamba was back on level terms within three minutes thanks to a Satoshi Yamaguchi header before Lucas grabbed the winner when he headed home a smart Michihiro Yasuda cross. With South Korea's Chunnam Dragons beating Thailand Premier League champions Chonburi 1-0 in the same group, it leaves Gamba three points clear. In other action, Guillaume Dah Zadi headed a late goal as Chinese champion Changchun Yatai scored a 1-0 win against South Korea's Pohang Steelers. Adelaide United's 2-1 win over Binh Duong in Vietnam leaves it topping Group E on goal difference from Changchun. In another match, Uzbek heavyweight Pakhtakor secured a 2-0 victory over Iraqi champions Arbil in Group D. Portsmouth wins Niko Kranjcar scored the lone goal Tuesday to lead Portsmouth over West Ham 1-0 in the Premier League. Kranjcar scored in the 61st minute with a low shot to ensure that Portsmouth remains unbeaten against West Ham since it was promoted to the Premier League in 2002. __
