Domingues at the double for perfect Kashiwa

By FOX Sports staff

Despite ultimately ending up on the losing side, it was the A-League side who took the lead at the Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium after just eight minutes when Patrick Zwaanswijk headed home an Oliver Bozanic corner, only to be pegged back 12 minutes later when Domingues broke through and coolly slotted past Mathew Ryan.

Although the visitors threatened from set-pieces occasionally, Kashiwa remained the dominant side and duly took the lead in the 67th minute when Kenta Kano swept home a cross from Masato Fujita, before Domingues wrapped up the win in the 88th minute with a sumptuous volley.

The result leaves the Japanese giants top of the group with maximum points from their opening two games, ahead of second-placed Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Guizhou Renhe.

An injury-time equaliser from Kamoliddin Murzoev earned Bunyodkor a 2-2 draw against Pohang Steelers at the JAR Stadium in Group G.

Although they took the lead in the 15th minute through a Oleksandr Pyschur strike, the hosts found themselves trailing by the 67th minute when Lee Gwang-hoon netted Pohang's second after Lee Myung-joo had equalised on the hour mark.

But Bunyodkor were not to be denied and avoided a costly home defeat when substitute Murzoev diverted Jasur Khasanov's shot past a hapless Kim Da-sol.

Elsewhere in the group, Beijing Guoan moved level with Bunyodkor on four points after a 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Lang Zheng had fired the Chinese side into the lead in the 21st minute but Naoki Ishihara's equaliser 15 minutes from time looked to have earned Hiroshima a share of the spoils, until four minutes later when Piao Cheng popped up to net the winner.

Iranian giants Esteghlal are top of Group D after a 2-0 win over Al-Ain.

Jlloyd Samuel put the Iranian side in front after 64 minutes before substitute Farhad Majidi made sure of the points after 73 minutes.

Yasser Al-Qahtani bagged a brace as Al Hilal were 3-1 winners over Al Rayyan.

The striker gave the home side the lead after 57 minutes before notching a second after 74 minutes.

Hamid Ismaeil got one back with four minutes left, but but Mohammad Al Shalhoub restored Al Hilal's lead a minute later.

Finally in Group E, Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli maintained their 100% start with a 2-1 win at Al Nasr, while Al Gharafa of Qatar, inspired by a brace from ex-France internationa Djibril Cisse, recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over Iranian giants Sepahan.

Wednesday's AFC Champions League Results

Group C

Al Gharafa 3-1 Sepahan

Al Nasr 1-2 Al Ahli

Group D

Esteghlal 2-0 Al Ain

Al Hilal 3-1 Al Rayyan

Group G

Beijing Guoan 2-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

Bunyodkor 2-2 Pohang Steelers

Group H

Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 Central Coast Mariners

Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0-0 Guizhou Renhe