AFC Champions League wrap: Bunyodkor salvage draw

13 March 2013 19:08

Bunyodkor snatched a late draw at home to Pohang Steelers in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, while Djibril Cisse starred.

Mirjalol Qosimov's Bunyodkor, semi-finalists last year, needed until the dying moments to secure a 2-2 draw against three-time champions Pohang in Tashkent.

They took a 15th-minute lead in the Group G clash as Oleksandr Pishchur finished smartly after receiving a long pass.

But Pohang equalised through Myeong-Ju Lee in the 60th minute before Gwang-Hoon Lee headed them in front soon after.

Just as the K-League side looked set to collect all three points, substitute Kamoliddin Murzoev slid in to equalise in the 94th minute, diverting in Jasur Hasanov's shot-cum-cross.

Bunyodkor are top of the group thanks to the late equaliser as second-placed Beijing Guoan recorded a 2-1 win at home to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Piao Cheng scored the winner in the 79th minute, firing an effort from just outside the area into the bottom corner.

In Group C, Cisse led Al Gharafa to a 3-1 win over Sepahan at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium in Doha.

On loan from Queens Park Rangers, Cisse cancelled out Mohammad Ahmadi's 14th-minute opener before putting his side ahead in the second half.

Majdi Siddiq sealed the points with his goal in additional time.

An Amad Al Hosni brace led Saudi side Al Ahli three points clear atop the group with their 2-1 victory at United Arab Emirates' Al Nasr.

Kashiwa Reysol moved four points clear on top of Group H after their come-from-behind 3-1 win over A-League side the Central Coast Mariners.

Patrick Zwaanswijk gave the Mariners the lead with his eighth-minute header but a standout showing from Leandro Domingues, who scored a brace and assisted Kenta Kano's goal, helped Kashiwa fight back.

Suwon Bluewings and Guizhou Renhe played out a 0-0 draw in the group's other game.

Esteghlal recorded their first win in Group D with a 2-0 victory over Al Ain coming thanks to second-half goals from Jlloyd Samuel and Farhad Majidi, while Al Hilal posted a 3-1 home win over Al-Rayyan.