By Michael Church
HT Picture
HONG KONG, – Speaking factors from the week in Asian soccer:
MELONI STRIKE EARNS SHARJAH ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TWO TITLE
Sharjah FC from the United Arab Emirates defeated Lion Metropolis Sailors 2-1 on the Singaporean facet’s Bishan Stadium on Sunday to win the Asian Champions League Two and declare the membership’s first continental trophy.
Marcus Meloni netted seven minutes into stoppage time to safe the winner after Lion Metropolis’s Maxime Lestienne had cancelled out Firas Ben Arbi’s 74th minute opener.
Profitable the Asian membership soccer second-tier competitors earns Sharjah direct qualification to the league section of the subsequent version of the AFC Champions League Elite, which is able to kick off in September.
MELBOURNE CITY, AUCKLAND EDGE CLOSER TO A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
Melbourne Metropolis moved one step nearer to the A-League Grand Ultimate on Friday with a 3-0 semi-final first-leg win over Western United, whereas Auckland Metropolis gained the higher hand in opposition to Melbourne Victory the next day.
Auckland, winners of the A-League Premiership of their debut season, secured a 1-0 win over Victory with Logan Rogerson scoring the one purpose at Melbourne Rectangular Park.
German Ferreyra, Yonathan Cohen and Mathew Leckie have been heading in the right direction for Metropolis of their win over Western United. The return legs in each fixtures can be on Saturday.
SUZUKI STRIKES AS KASHIMA ANTLERS EXTEND J.LEAGUE ADVANTAGE
Kashima Antlers prolonged their lead in Japan to 4 factors on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse after second-placed Kashiwa Reysol misplaced 3-0 to Machida Zelvia.
Yuma Suzuki scored the one purpose of the sport to carry Kashima to 37 factors from 17 matches. Kyoto Sanga are third, six factors behind the leaders, after beating Yokohama F Marinos 3-0.
JEONBUK PULL LEVEL WITH LEADERS DAEJEON AT Okay LEAGUE SUMMIT
Jeonbuk Motors pulled degree on factors with leaders Daejeon Citizen in South Korea on Saturday as a brace from Jeon Jin-woo gave Gus Poyet’s facet a 2-0 win over Anyang FC.
Daejeon slipped up with a 3-0 defeat by Suwon FC on Sunday however proceed to high the standings on objectives scored, the preliminary tiebreaker used when groups are degree within the league.
Defending champions Ulsan HD are third following their 1-1 draw with Gangwon FC.
SHENHUA MOVE TWO POINTS CLEAR IN CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE
Shanghai Shenhua opened up a two-point lead over Chengdu Rongcheng within the Chinese language Tremendous League on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Dalian Yingbo.
Joao Teixeira, Liu Chengyu and Saulo Minero have been heading in the right direction as Shenhua picked up their tenth win in 13 matches.
Chengdu have been held 1-1 by Qingdao West Coast whereas third-placed Beijing Guoan drew 1-1 with Qingdao Hainiu.