Nagoya Grampus on Wednesday became the fourth Japanese team to make the last 16 of the AFC Champions League, while the Newcastle Jets kept Australian hopes alive.
Yoshizumi Ogawa scored twice as Nagoya beat South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai 4-1, ensuring they secured top spot in Group E with 11 points from five games, five ahead of Ulsan and Newcastle, who eased past Beijing Guoan 2-1.
Defending champions Gamba Osaka, who kept their 100 percent record intact with a 1-0 win over China’s Shandong Luneng, have already qualified for the knockout stage, along with Kawasaki Frontale and Kashima Antlers.
The win means Newcastle, who are now second in Group E behind Nagoya, can go through to the playoff stage if they earn a point in their final group match against Ulsan in South Korea on May 20.
In west Asia, Group A will go down to the wire as to who ends up topping it after Uzbek powerhouses Pakhtakor beat bottom-placed Al Ahli of the UAE 2-0.
The Uzbek side have already secured a place in the next round as have Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, who ensured they stayed in the hunt for top place by beating Iranian outfit Saba Battery 1-0 away.
The two will fight it out in a mouthwatering head to head battle in Saudi Arabia on May 20 with the Uzbeks needing just a point to finish top.
Group B remains a three-horse race despite a shake-up of the table following the withdrawal of Sharjah this week.
The UAE club, who pulled out to focus on escaping relegation in their domestic league, were on zero points and all their previous results are considered null and void.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab could only draw 0-0 at home to Al Gharafa, but it ensured they stayed a point ahead of Wednesday’s opponents in the group.
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