Asian Champions League Match Day 1

The 2010 Asian Champions League kicked off last night with 8 of the first 16 group games being played.

In Group A, Qatar’s Al Gharafa got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 2-1 away win over UAE’s Al Jazira whilst Al Ahli of Sauid Arabia were also defeated 2-1 at home, with Iran’s Esteghlal doing the damage.

Group B saw Iran’s Zobahan get the desired result with a 1-0 home win against UAE’s Al Wahda and in Tashkent, last year’s semi-finalists Bunyodkor were led by former Brazil star Rivaldo to easily overcome Al Ittihad 3-0.

Group E also had two winning results with South Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa edging past Kawasaki Frontale of Japan 2-0 and Chinese Super League champions Beijing Guoan did enough at home to record a win over reigning A-League champs Melbourne Victory.

Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors scored a comprehensive 4-0 away win over Indonesian club Persipura Jayapura in Group F as Japanese outfit Kashima Antlers produced a narrow 1-0 win over China’s Changchun Yatai.

Tonight will see the other groups begin their campaigns with reigning Asian champions Pohang Steelers taking on Australia’s Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium in South Australia.

Score summaries:

Group A
Al Jazira (UAE): 1 (Rafael Sobis 56’)
Al Gharafa (QAT): 2 (Othman El Assas 16’, Younis Mahmoud 53’)

Al Ahli (KSA): 1 (Hassan Al Raheb 85’)
Esteghlal (IRN): 2 (Farhad Majidi 12’, 76’)

Group B

Bunyodkor (UZB): 3 (Rivaldo 4’, Jasur Hasanov 21’, Denilson 67’)
Al Ittihad (KSA): 0

Zobahan (IRN): 1 (Igor Castro 60’)
Al Wahda (UAE): 0

Group E

Seongnam Ilhwa (KOR): 2 (Mauricio Molina 35’, Dzenan Radoncic 79’)
Kawasaki Frontale (JAP): 0

Beijing Guoan (CHN): 1 (Joel Griffiths 52’)
Melbourne Victory (AUS): 0

Group F

Persipura Jayapura (IDN): 1 (Yustinus Pae 68’)
Jeonbuk Motors (KOR): 4 (Seung-Yong Kim (p) 17’, Krunoslav Lovrek 26’, 67’, 81’)

Kashima Antlers (JAP): 1 (Koij Nakata 42’)
Changchun Yatai (CHN): 0