Pato pops up to rescue Quanjian
Former Chelsea and AC Milan star Alexandre Pato rescued Tianjin Quanjian from its first Asian Champions League loss when his late goal earned a 1-1 draw with Kashiwa Reysol in Japan on Tuesday.
The Chinese Super League side, which is making its debut in the competition, trailed to Cristiano’s second-half strike after the 31-year-old Brazilian atoned for a first-half penalty miss.
However, with two minutes remaining, former Brazil international Pato fired a rebound into an open net.
Two-time champion Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea led the group after thrashing Kitchee 6-0 in Hong Kong.
Shanghai SIPG also won big in Group F, thrashing Melbourne Victory 4-1, with former Chelsea player Oscar scoring twice in the second half after Hulk and Wu Lei had opened the Chinese side’s account.
Hulk broke the deadlock after 27 minutes with a penalty, and a Wu header doubled the lead just before the break. When Oscar scored soon after the restart, the contest looked to be over.
But Besart Berisha gave Melbourne hope from the spot midway through the second half before Oscar’s second secured the points.
Also in Group F, Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea defeated J-League champion Kawasaki Frontale 2-1. Ulsan went up 2-0 after pouncing on Frontale defensive errors.
The Japanese side scored with five minutes remaining but fell to two losses in as many matches and next faces group leader SIPG.
Baghdad bounce
Meanwhile, Baghdad Bounedjah continued his spectacular comeback from a near three-month injury layoff to power Al Sadd to its second straight victory in Group C.
The Algerian striker, who tallied twice in the Qatari side’s 2-1 win over the UAE’s Al Wasl last week, had another brace as the 2011 champion saw off Iran’s Persepolis 3-1 in Doha.
Bounedjah was injured in late November during a Qatar Stars League match, but has scored in every match he has played since returning earlier this month, underlining his value for his club, which on Tuesday was playing its first continental match on its home ground in three years.
Also in Group C, Al Wasl suffered their second straight defeat when they fell to Uzbekistan’s Nasaf 1-0, with Russian Igor Golban on target.
In Group D, Saudi giants Al Hilal had a day to forget when Abdullah al-Hafith scored an own goal to hand Iran’s Etheghlal an upset win in Seeb, Oman.
Al-Hafith deflected a Mame Thiam shot to wrongfoot goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi just seconds after the restart as Al Hilal slumped to the bottom of the standings with one point from two matches.
Meanwhile in Group D, Qatar’s Al Rayyan snatched a 1-1 draw with 2003 winners Al Ain of the UAE.