Abedi Pele strikes in 6-1 win for Al Ain

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ghanaian international Abedi Pele was among the scorers as hosts Al Ain destroyed Turkmenistan champions Kopetdag 6-1 in the opening round of matches in the western quarter-final group of the Asian Club soccer Championship on Thursday. Pele, who joined the United Arab Emirates' champions last August, claimed the club's fourth goal 10 minutes into the second half with a piercing drive from the edge of the penalty area to put his side 4-1 up and the result beyond doubt. Abdullah Shila and Majed Hamad both scored two goals each as Al Ain surged to the top of the early standings ahead of Iranian champions Esteghlal. Esteghlal managed to hold on despite being reduced to 10 players for all of the second half to move into second place with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal. Al Hilal, who reached the last four of this competition last year only to lose to eventual winners Pohang Steelers, went two goals down inside the first 40 minutes through Iranian international Farhad Majidi and Sirous Dinmohammadi. Reza Hassan's dismissal in first half injury time for a second bookable offence threatened to undermine Esteghlal's superiority and, with less than two minutes gone in the second half, Kuwaiti international Bashar Abdullah reduced the deficit. But the Saudis were unable to breech the packed Esteghlal defence again, despite throwing towering Zambian defender Elijah Litana forward at every opportunity, and the Iranians held on.

AL AIN, United Arab Emirates, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Ghanaian international Abedi Pele was among the scorers as hosts Al Ain destroyed Turkmenistan champions Kopetdag 6-1 in the opening round of matches in the western quarter-final group of the Asian Club soccer Championship on Thursday. Pele, who joined the United Arab Emirates' champions last August, claimed the club's fourth goal 10 minutes into the second half with a piercing drive from the edge of the penalty area to put his side 4-1 up and the result beyond doubt. Abdullah Shila and Majed Hamad both scored two goals each as Al Ain surged to the top of the early standings ahead of Iranian champions Esteghlal. Esteghlal managed to hold on despite being reduced to 10 players for all of the second half to move into second place with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabian champions Al Hilal. Al Hilal, who reached the last four of this competition last year only to lose to eventual winners Pohang Steelers, went two goals down inside the first 40 minutes through Iranian international Farhad Majidi and Sirous Dinmohammadi. Reza Hassan's dismissal in first half injury time for a second bookable offence threatened to undermine Esteghlal's superiority and, with less than two minutes gone in the second half, Kuwaiti international Bashar Abdullah reduced the deficit. But the Saudis were unable to breech the packed Esteghlal defence again, despite throwing towering Zambian defender Elijah Litana forward at every opportunity, and the Iranians held on.