Parade of champions light up ACL

Al Ittihad players celebrate a goal against Umm Salal in their AFC Champions League game in Doha on Wednesday. (AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR: The reigning champions and two former kings of Asia in this century have emerged unscratched after two rounds of the 2009 AFC Champions League.

Japan’s Gamba Osaka, two-time winners Al Ittihad and Korea’s Suwon Bluewings, former champions from a more distant past, have won both their matches so far.

Gamba, who lifted their first Asian club title last year, have stormed out of the blocks, beating Shandong Luneng 3-0 and FC Seoul 4-2 to sit atop Group F with maximum points.

Although only three points ahead of Shandong, they next face Indonesian minnows Sriwijaya at home on April 8 and, barring a major drop in form, are expected to triumph comfortably.

Al Ittihad won the title in 2004 and 2005 and are looking to revive their fortunes on the Asian stage. They have made a good start, beating Iran’s Esteghlal 2-1 and Qatars Umm Salal 3-1 away for the right to lead Group C.

They are already five points ahead of third-placed Al Jazira, whom they face next, and victory would put them within arms-reach of the last 16.

Suwon were continental champions in 2001 and 2002, the last year before the tournament became the AFC Champions League.

They thrashed Japan’s Kashima Antlers 4-1 before beating Singapore Armed Forces 2-0 away for their six points in Group G. They next meet second-placed Shanghai Shenhua on April 7.

Another continental champion from this century, Al Hilal, meanwhile, have had a slow start. They have drawn twice in Group A and trail Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor by two points.

Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale have a similar lead over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in Group H.

The other three groups remain tight affairs with all four teams Group D – Iran’s Sepahan, Al Shabab, of UAE, Saudis Al Ettifaq and Uzbeks Bunyodkor – locked on three points each.

At the top of Group B, Al Shabab, of Saudi Arabia, and Iran’s Prioozi have identical records of a win and draw from two games, both teams scoring three and conceding one.

China’s Beijing Guoan and Nagoya Grampus, of Japan, are also on four points each at the top of Group E.