Japan reign supreme in AFC Champions League

Nagoya Grampus became the fourth Japanese team to make the last 16 of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, while Newcastle Jets kept Australian hopes alive.

Yoshizumi Ogawa scored twice as Nagoya beat South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai 4-1, ensuring they secured top spot in Group E with 11 points from five games, five ahead of Ulsan and Newcastle, who eased past Beijing Guoan 2-1.

Defending champions Gamba Osaka, who kept their 100 percent record intact with a 1-0 win over China’s Shandong Luneng, have already qualified for the knockout stage, along with Kawasaki Frontale and Kashima Antlers.

Saudi Arabia’s Ettifaq and Uzbek giants Pakhtakor are also through.

Ogawa set the wheels in motion for Nagoya with a header after 14 minutes, with Yuki Maki and Davi also on target before Ogawa completed the rout 18 minutes from time.

In Australia, Newcastle Jets stayed in contention for the last 16 with two goals in the final six minutes to sink Beijing Guoan.

The Jets squeezed home with goals from striker Sasho Petrovski and substitute Sean Rooney after the Chinese Super League team had looked poised for victory following Ryan Griffiths’ strike in the 69th minute.

But Petrovski equalised in the 88th minute with Rooney netting the winner with just 30 seconds left of the four minutes stoppage time.

The win means Newcastle, who are now second in Group E behind Nagoya, can go through to the playoff stage if they earn a point in their final group match against Ulsan in South Korea on May 20.

Gamba are the form team of the tournament and a strike by Yasuhito Endo just before half-time against Shandong means they have won all five of their matches so far.

It leaves the Chinese side on seven points alongside Korea’s FC Seoul with one match to go in Group F.

In west Asia, Group A leaders Pakhtakor host bottom-placed Al Ahli of the UAE as they bid to secure top spot in their group.

The Uzbek side have already secured a place in the next round after picking up 10 points, two more than Saudi Arabia?s Al Hilal.

Hilal have one foot in the next stage, but will be eager for victory against Saba Battery in Iran as they seek to overtake Pakhtakor.

Group B remains a three-horse race despite a shake-up of the table following the withdrawal of Sharjah this week.

The UAE club, who pulled out to focus on escaping relegation in their domestic league, were on zero points and all their previous results are considered null and void.

Saudi Arabia?s Al Shabab have four points and host Al Gharafa, on three points, later Wednesday.

The top-placed team in each of the eight groups will play at home against one of the second-placed sides in the one-leg round of 16, which will be held in the west zone on May 27 and the east zone on June 24.