AFC Champions League R16: Upsets and comebacks galore

A late deflected strike gave Qatari side Lekhwiya a 1-0 away win at Saudi giants Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League (ACL) on Wednesday. The Qataris now have the upper hand but will still be apprehensive of a Hilal backlash in the return leg next week.

In the two other Saudi-Qatari R16 clashes, Al-Shabab came back to defeat Al Gharafa 2-1 away, while last year’s runners-up Al Ahli were held to a 1-1 draw by debutantes and hosts Al Jaish. In Dubai, the lone remaining representatives of Iran and UAE faced off, with Iran Pro League champions Esteghlal coming back from a goal down to beat Al-Shabab al Arabi 4-2.

Over in East Asia, Buriram United continued their fantastic dream run by coming out 2-1 winners over Uzbek powerhouses Bunyodkor. Beijing Guoan and FC Seoul played out a goalless draw while Kashiwa Reysol put one step in the quarterfinals with a 2-0 away win at 2006 champions Jeonbuk. And finally Australia’s Central Coast Mariners took the lead but lost out 1-2 to Marcelo Lippi’s Guangzhou Evergrande.

RESULTS (ACL 2013 R16 first leg ):

Al Hilal 0 – 1 Lekhwiya (Msakni 82′)

Central Coast 1 (Duke 7′) – 2 Guangzhou Evergrande (Barrios 28′, Muriqui 76′)

Al Shabab Al Arabi 2 (Luiz Henrique 45′, Edgar 85′) – 4 Esteghlal (Samuel 55′, Nekounam 73′, Majidi 80′, Heydari 90′)

Jeonbuk Motors 0 – 2 Kashiwa Reysol (Kudo 3′, Masushima 74′)

El Jaish 1 (Anderson 76′) – 1 Al Ahli (Motaz 45′)

Al Gharafa 1 (Bresciano 42′) – 2 Al Shabab (Tagliabue 55′, Al Shamrani 83′)

Buriram United 2 (Jujeen 17′, Sumrei 76′) - 1 Bunyodkor (Taran 45′)

Beijing Guoan 0 – 0 FC Seoul