Toyota - Kashima Antlers vs Tianjin QuanjianAFC

AFC Champions League 2018: Quarterfinals Review - First leg

The AFC Champions League 2018 quarterfinals first leg has just been completed. Let's take a look at the action that unfolded:


Kashima Antlers 2-0 Tianjin Quanjian (Silva 60' Serginho 72')


Second-half goals from Leo Silva and Serginho was enough as Japanese side Kashima Antlers defeated China's Tianjin Quanjian 2-0 in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-final clash. 

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Kashima started the match well and should have taken the lead in the first half itself, if not for missed chances. Captain Yasuhi Endo went close on a couple of occasions before Brazilian Leo Silva opened the scoring around the hour mark. 

Yamamoto picked out Endo who headed it for Silva to lash home from 10 yards. Serginho then made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute with a stunning left-footed effort from 25 yards to seal the result. 


Al Duhail 1-0 Persepolis (Ali 15')


Young striker Almoez Ali handed Qatar's Al Duhail a 1-0 win over Iran's Persepolis in the first leg of their ACL quarter-final bout. 

Al Duhail had the upper hand in the game right from the word go and Youssef El Arabi should have put them ahead early on before Almoez Ali got in on the act. In the 15th minute, Edmilson sent in a teasing cross from the left and Ali was on hand to head it in expertly. 

Though Persepolis showed greater intent in the second-half, they could not pose a serious threat while Al Duhail could also fashion very few chances as they held on for the win. 

The result meant that the Qatari champions matched Ulsan Hyundai's record of nine consecutive wins in the AFC Champions League.


Esteghlal 1-3 Al Sadd (Khouki (OG) 12' - Afif 60' Bounedjah 65', 74')


Iran's Esteghlal suffered a damaging 3-1 defeat at home to Qatar's Al Sadd, thanks to Baghdad Bounedjah's second-half brace. 

Esteghlal had got off to a dream start in the 12th minute when they took the lead, thanks to an own goal. Boulam Khouki headed a high ball towards his keeper but he could not prevent it from rolling into the goal. 

But Al Sadd came out after the half-time break with renewed vigour and equalised in the 60th minute when Afif played a lovely one-two with Bounedjah before slotting a shot home. Bounedjah would then score a goal himself five minutes later after latching on to Xavi's flicked pass. Bounedjah then won and converted a penalty to make it 3-1 and seal a fantastic result for the Qatari outfit. 


Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0-3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Damjanovic 75', 82' Eui-gwon 85')


Suwon Bluewings shocked Jeonbuk Hyundai with three late goals away from home to gain a fantastic result in the first leg of their ACL quarter-final clash. 

Suwon, reeling after the resignation of head coach Seo Jung-won, made the brighter start surprisingly and created several chances in the opening exchanges. However, Jeonbuk grew into the game as the half passed and went on to assume control of the game in the second-half. 

However, a goal eluded them before Suwon shocked them in the 75th minute. Elvis Saric's low cross from the left was turned in Dejan Damjanovic at the far post. Damjanovic then made it 2-0 in the 82nd minute when he controlled a knock-down from Lee Jong-sung and rifled home. Three minutes later, Han Eui-gwon headed home another cross from Saric to complete a memorable result for the Korean outfit.

 
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