DUBAI — A brace by Omar Al-Soma ensured Al-Ahli remained at the summit of Group D as the Saudi side secured a 2-2 draw at Iran's Tractor Sazi Tabriz in their AFC Champions League match in Iran Tuesday. After an uneventful first half the host took the lead on the hour-mark in Tabriz through Brazilian striker Edinho but Al-Soma tied things up for Al-Ahli in the 72nd minute with a powerful effort from close range. The Iranians then went in front again in the 75th minute through a header from midfielder Shahin Saghebi, but the visitors fought back strongly and equalized in the 89th minute through Al-Soma to ensure it holds on to top spot in the group with eight points from four games. UAE's Al-Ahli is second in Group D on five points after edging Nasaf of Uzbekistan 1-0. Nasaf is third on 5 points, followed by Tractor Sazi a point behind. In Tokyo, substitute Hiroyuki Takasaki scored with the last touch of the game as Kashima Antlers put Guangzhou Evergrande's AFC Champions League title bid on hold with a 2-1 win. Takasaki nodded home a 93rd-minute free-kick to hand the struggling Japanese side a lifeline and inflict a first Asian defeat on Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou. Winless Kashima had been facing possible elimination, while a fourth straight victory would have put wealthy Guangzhou into the last 16 as they bid for their second Asian title. But Takasaki's glancing header from Gaku Shibasaki's free-kick stunned the Chinese champion and left home fans weeping tears of joy at a rocking Kashima Stadium. Also in Group H, title-holder Western Sydney Wanderers were lucky to escape with a 1-1 draw against FC Seoul after a late goal-line controversy. Wanderers' keeper Ante Covic did brilliantly to parry a goal-bound volley in injury time but as he landed, he appeared to drag the loose ball over the line. Go Yo-han had cancelled out Kerem Bulut's opener and despite a late penalty shout from Tomi Juric, Wanderers coach Tony Popovic cut a relieved figure after the game. The results leave Guangzhou top of Group H on nine points, four clear of the Wanderers and FC Seoul, with Kashima still alive on three and with two more rounds of games to go. Six-goal hero Ricardo Goulart led Guangzhou to three wins in a row but the Brazilian left his scoring boots at home as Kashima went ahead through an early Yasushi Endo penalty. It wasn't until the 75th minute that Brazilian forward Elkeson put Guangzhou level with a sweeping, left-footed volley from a chipped cross delivered by Gao Lin. But Kashima showed the greater endeavor and composure and Takasaki, introduced in the 77th minute, seized his chance as he directed his header past goalkeeper Li Shuai. Elsewhere Gamba Osaka beat Thailand's Buriram United 2-1 to leave Group F finely poised heading into the final two rounds of pool matches. Theerathon Bunmathan put Buriram in front but Brazilian forward Lins equalized before Kotaro Omori became the night's second Japanese super-sub with an 87th-minute winner. Seongnam FC fought to a 0-0 stalemate with Guangzhou R&F to leave all four sides in the group separated by only three points. In another game, Pakhtakor Tashkent of Uzbekistan drew 1-1 with Al-Ain of UAE. — Agencies
