AFC Champions League wrap: Sydney out, Suwon on top

Sydney FC’s Asian Champions League campaign came to an end in the group stages on Tuesday with a 3-1 defeat away to the Suwon Bluewings.

Goals from Ha Tae-Kyun, Mato Neretljak and Yeom Ki-Hun were the reward for a dominant display from the Korean side at the Suwon World Cup Stadium, with Bruno Cazarine’s consolation strike from Sydney coming against the run of play.

The win sees Suwon join Kashima Antlers on nine points at the top of Group H.

Sydney are four points behind in third with just one match of the group stage remaining.

In Group G, Cerezo Osaka moved second following a 4-0 win away to Arema Malang, with Taka Inui claiming a brace for the visitors.

Jeonbuk Motors remain top of the group after they beat Shandong Luneng Taishan 2-1 away from home.

Lee Dong-Gook’s double proved enough for Jeonbuk to claim all three points and they are now three points clear of Cerezo Osaka, while Shandong are down to third.

Persepolis recorded their first victory of the tournament, beating Group C leaders Al-Ittihad 3-2.

Hamidreza Dehaghi scored twice, with Shpejtim Arifi netting the other for the Iranian side.

Al-Ittihad remain top of the group, with Kuruvchi Tashkent second after beating Al-Wahda 3-2.

A double from Milos Trifunovic and Shavkat Salomov’s late goal were the difference for the Uzbeks, who had to come from behind after Ismail Matar’s fourth-minute opener.

Al Sadd secured top spot in Group B courtesy of a 2-2 draw at home to second-placed Esteghlal.

Qataris Al Sadd needed goals from Khalfan Ibrahim and Hasan Al Haydos to come from back from two down after Farzad Majidi struck twice in the first half for the visitors.

Esteghlal are second, level on points with third placed Al-Nasr.

Zob-Ahan moved on to 13 points at the top of Group D after beating Al-Emirates 1-0 away from home.

Al Shabab moved second after winning 1-0 at home to Al Rayyan, with Naser Al-Shamrani claiming the winner on 76 minutes.

Al-Emirates are now third, two points behind Al Shabab, while Al Rayyan are bottom with just one point from five matches.