Kashiwa, Piroozi win big in Asian Champions League

Kashiwa, Piroozi win big in Asian Champions League

Published Mar. 21, 2012 9:20 p.m. ET

Leandro Domingues scored a first-half double as Kashiwa Reysol of Japan trounced South Korean champion Jeonbuk Motors 5-1 in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.

Imon Zayed hit a hat trick to help Iranian side Piroozi Athletic thrash Al Shabab of the United Arab Emirates 6-1, and Buriram United of Thailand - the surprise of the tournament - remains undefeated after a 2-1 win over Guangzhou Evergrandes of China.

In Japan, Daisuke Nasu gave Kashiwa the lead in the 40th minute with a header from Jorge Wagner's free kick. Five minutes later, Domingues converted from the spot and then struck again with a 25-yard shot that flew over goalkeeper Lee Bum-soo late in the first half.

Chinese international Huang Bowen pulled one back for Jeonbuk in te 51st, but goals from Junya Tanaka and Akimi Barada ensured Reysol bounced back from its opening loss to Buriram.

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''We had a big responsibility to do well at home in our second game this time,'' Reysol coach Nelsinho said. ''We knew it would be a tough game to play against Jeonbuk, but we put on a good performance as a team and as individuals in the first half.''

In Tehran, Piroozi had little trouble against winless Al Shabab.

Zayed scored first in the eighth minute, made it 2-0 in the 47th with a back-heeled shot and then found the net from close range six minutes later.

Al Shabab pulled one back when Jociel Ferreira da Silva converted a penalty in the 56th minute. But Golamreza Rezaei made it 4-1 in the 59th minute and teammate Ali Karimi slotted home a penalty three minutes later.

Amir Hossein Feshangchi made it 6-1 in the 87th minute to ensure Piroozi remains undefeated and top of Group A.

Australia's Central Coast Mariners and Nagoya Grampus of Japan drew 1-1. Marcus Tanaka's close-range finish from a disputed free kick gave the 2010 J-League champions a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute, before the Mariners leveled seven minutes later through Dutch veteran Patrick Zwaanswijk.

''From a technical point of view, we played the better football. But the Mariners as a team didn't give up,'' Nagoya coach Dragan Stojkovic said. ''They are the leaders of the A-League and we have to respect that. Coming here a draw isn't that bad of a result, they put us in difficult situations tonight.''

Ivory Coast striker Amara Diane scored his second goal of the night in the 90th minute to lead Al Nasr of the UAE to a 2-1 victory over Lekhwiya of Qatar. Diane scored first in the 36th minute before Moumouni Dagano equalized six minutes later.

Othman al-Assas' last-minute goal allowed Al Gharafa of Qatar to escape with a 3-3 draw against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia.

Al Hilal's Adil Hermach found the net in the 16th minute, but Diego Tardelli drew Al Gharafa level in the 44th minute with the first of his two goals. Youssef El Arabi put Al Hilal back in front in the 64th, yet Tardelli equalized again. Al Hilal's Al Zori Abdulla made it 3-2 in the 75th minute.

A second-half header from Romanian defender Lucian Goian earned Chinese FA Cup winner Tianjin Teda a 1-1 draw with South Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.

Brazilian striker Victor Simoes also fired home a last-gasp winner to give Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia a 1-1 draw with Sepahan of Iran. Simoes scored in the 90th minute after fellow Brazilian Bruno Cesar had given Sepahan a lead in the 35th minute.

The top two teams in each of the eight groups advance to the round of 16.

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