Qatar giants Duhail make winning start
DOHA: Former Bayern Munich and Juventus star Medhi Benatia struck a 56th-minute goal as Qatar giants Al Duhail powered to a 3-0 win over Iran’s Esteghlal in their Asian Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday.
The French-born Moroccan international, who along with Japan’s Shoya Nakajima were the key signings for Al Duhail earlier this year, made a memorable debut on the Asian stage, heading home a cross from Murad Naji to put his side ahead.
Youssef El Arabi consolidated for Al Duhail with a 73rd-minute goal off a Nakajima pass and Ali Hassan Afif completed the tally in added time to give Rui Faria’s side three points at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal edged past Emirati side Al Ain 1-0, with Mohammad al-Shalhoub scoring the winning goal in the 65th minute in a Group C clash.
In Group D, Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor couldn’t hold on to their early lead and split the points with Persepolis after a 1-1 draw at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran.
In another Group D clash, 2011 champions Al Sadd of Qatar fell to a 2-0 opening defeat to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in Jeddah.
Syrian star Omar al-Somah struck both goals to help gain revenge for Al Ahli, who were knocked out by Al Sadd in the round of 16 last year. Al-Somah incidentally had missed both legs of that tie.
Sydney FC and Ulsan Hyundai shared the spoils in a windswept goalless opener in a Group H match in Sydney yesterday.
Veteran goal machine Lee Dong-gook rolled back the years yesterday as two-time AFC Champions League title winners Jeonbuk Motors got their 9 campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 home victory over Beijing Guoan.
In the other Group G clash another two-time Asian champions, Urawa Red Diamonds, also began with a comfortable win, 3-0 at home to Thailand's Buriram United, courtesy of second-half goals from Tomoaki Makino and a double from Daiki Hashioka.