Mariners to face Guangzhou in playoffs

Central Coast Mariners will face Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League.

Central Coast Mariners will face Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande in the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League.

With the final Group F games being played overnight, Daisuke Nasu's lone goal for the Urawa Red Diamonds who got past Muang Thong United, although it was not enough to seal their progression.

Guangzhou Evergrande and Jeonbuk United drew 0-0, leaving the Chinese side top of the group by a point and the South Korean side in second by virtue of goal difference.

The Mariners will now face Guangzhou, led by former Italy national coach Marcello Lippi, over two games in the round of 16.

In other games, Bunyodkor ended their campaign in Group G unbeaten as group winners after a 1-1 draw with Pohang Steelers, who have fallen out of the competition.


Oleksandr Pishchur put Bunyodkor ahead in the first half but Seong-Ho Park equalised for his side in the 90th minute, and second-placed Beijing Guoan held onto their qualifying spot by drawing 0-0 with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Group A leaders Al Shabab qualified two points clear at the top after a 2-1 win over Al Jazira, with goals from Nasser Al-Shamrani and Bader Al Sulaiteen. Al Jaish finish in second place after a 4-2 win against Teraktor Sazi, who ended the phase bottom with just four points.

Lekhwiya saw off the threat of Al Ettifaq with a comfortable 2-0 win to qualify as winners of Group B while Al Shabab came from a goal behind to overtake Pakhtakor and qualify for the next round in second place with goals from Esam Dhahi and Ciel to thank.

In group H, Kashiwa Reysol finished top, dispatching of Central Coast Mariners in a comfortable 3-0 win, putting seven points between the two sides in the final standings.

Elsewhere in the group, Guizhou Renhe and the Suwon Bluewings played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with the Bluewings twice pegged back by their opposition.

There was a surprising result in group C too, with bottom side Al Nasr enjoying a draw with leaders Al Ahli.

They could have taken all three points too but for a Taisir Al-Jassim equaliser in the 77th minute.

In group D Third-placed Sepahan moved closer to Al Gharafa with the Iranian outfit securing a 3-1 win over their Qatari opposition.

Esteghlal moved onto 13 points and sealed top spot of Group D after their 1-0 win over Al Ain, a Javad Nekounam  penalty giving them the victory, while Al Hilal ended up just a point behind the Iranians.

They beat bottom side Al Rayyan 2-0 with goals in the 78th and 83rd minutes from Nawaf Al Abid and Sa'ad Al-Harthi.

In the battle between first and second in Group E, FC Seoul and Buriram United drew 2-2 with the Korean side twice leading in the match, while third beat fourth as Jiangsu Sainty overcame Vegalta Sendai.