Kashiwa, Persepolis crush group rivals

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Jeonbuk Motors crashed to another heavy loss in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday, while Persepolis thrashed Al-Shabab.

Last season's beaten finalists Jeonbuk suffered a 5-1 loss to J.League champions Kashiwa Reysol, who earned their first points in Group H.

The game came to life late in the first half, with the hosts netting three times in five minutes before the break.

Jorge Wagner assisted Daisuke Nasu, while Leandro Domingues netted from the spot before dramatically adding another goal moments prior to the interval.

The K-League champions steadied after the break with China international Huang Bowen pulling one back on 51 minutes.

The contest seemed all but over on 77 minutes when the hosts won a penalty, but Domingues failed to convert.

But Kashiwa dominated to finish the encounter with Domingues setting up Junya Tanaka to make it 4-1 on 89 minutes, before substitute Akimi Barada scored the fifth in additional time.

In the other Group H game, Thai champions Buriram United recorded a 2-1 win over China's Guangzhou Evergrande to stay top.

Frank Acheampong scored the winner on 78 minutes after Cleo had cancelled out Suchao Nutnum's opener.

Elsewhere, Ireland-born striker Eamon Zayed was the hero for Iranian giants Persepolis, netting a hat-trick in their 6-1 thrashing of United Arab Emirates outfit Al-Shabab in their Group D encounter in Tehran.

Zayed netted in the eighth, 48th and 54th minutes, including a clever back-heel which was the pick of the goals.

Al-Shabab responded through a Ciel penalty on 56 minutes, but the hosts would run away with the game.

Gholamreza Rezaei netted on the hour mark, before Iran international Ali Karimi made it five after converting a penalty on 62 minutes.

Substitute Amir Hossein Feshangchi put the icing on the cake when he raced in behind the defence and placed home the sixth.

Also in Group D, a late Otmane El Assas penalty earned Al Gharafa a 3-3 draw at home to Al-Hilal.

In Group G, Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Patrick Zwaanswijk traded goals as Nagoya Grampus and the Central Coast Mariners played out a 1-1 draw.

Korean FA Cup winners Seongnam Ilhwa were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Chinese side Tianjin Teda, with Lucian Goian cancelling out Han Sang-Woon's opener.

Elsewhere, Al-Nasr recorded a 2-1 win over Lekhwiya thanks to Amara Diane's late winner in Group C, while Al Ahli salvaged a point at home after Victor Simoes netted an injury-time penalty in a 1-1 draw with Sepahan.

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