Defending champions Pohang Steelers had goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong to thank as they recorded a second consecutive win in the AFC Champions League – this time against Shandong Luneng – following their opening-day defeat in Australia.
Noh Byung-joon’s free-kick following Pohang’s first attack opened the scoring at the Steelyard to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
With six minutes remaining Shandong had a chance to nick a point after Kim Jung-kyum brought down Daniel Benson but Shin’s fingertip save denied substitute Deng Zhuoxiang from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile Japan’s Kashima Antlers maintained a 100 percent record with a 5-0 win over hapless Indonesian champion Persipura at Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Brazilian striker Marquinhos scored twice for the J-League champions as Kashima moved a step closer to the knockout stages, while Persipura has conceded 18 goals in three defeats in Group F.
With K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beating Changchun 2-1 in China, Kashima remained three points clear at the top of the group but crucially six points clear of third place with three games remaining.
At Changchun Jingkai Stadium, South Korea striker Lee Dong-gook scored with five minutes remaining as Jeonbuk edged out Changchun to bounce back from its defeat by Kashima.
Substitute Du Zhenyu opened the scoring for the home side five minutes after the hour mark after firing home from the edge of the area.
But just 10 minutes later goalkeeper Mi Tianhe failed to deal with a corner and Choi Tae-uk stabbed home from close range from the ensuing scramble.
And with five minutes remaining Jeonbuk snatched all three points to remain in pole position to secure second place as Choi surged into the area before finding Lee with a smart pass for the former Middlesbrough striker to produce a calm close-range finish.
Hosni Abd Rabou’s last-minute equaliser saw Al Ahli stun Group D leader Al Hilal.
Having been hammered 5-0 at home by Al Sadd last time out, Al Ahli’s chances of getting something out of the game at the King Fahd International Stadium seemed remote and it receded even further when Essia Al-Mehyani opened the scoring after 48 minutes.
But Abd Rabou’s injury-time free-kick secured an unlikely point for the UAE side, much to the delight of new boss Nooreddine Al Obaidy.
Four goals in 14 minutes saw Al Sadd put its Qatar League disappointment behind it with a 4-1 rout of Mes Kerman in the same group.
Zob Ahan went top of Group B as two superb goals helped the Iranians stun Uzbekistan powerhouse Bunyodkor 3-0 at the Foolad Shahr Stadium.
Last season’s beaten finalist Al Ittihad registered its first win of the 2010 edition as goals from Abdelmalik Ziaya and Mohammed Noor clinched a 2-0 win over Al Wahda at Al Nahyan Stadium.
