LONDON: Talking points from the week in Asian football:
SAUDI LEADERS AL-HILAL MOVE 10 POINTS CLEAR
Al-Hilal moved 10 points clear in the Saudi Pro League on Thursday with a 2-0 win over Al-Wehda, Saud Abdulhamid opening the scoring in the 20th minute and Aleksandar Mitrovic netting his 15 goal of the season with 10 minutes left.
The win moved Al-Hilal a further three points clear of second-placed Al-Nassr after Cristiano Ronaldo's side had their game against Al-Ittihad postponed due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Al-Ahli remain third following their 4-0 win over Al-Fayha, with Feras Al-Brikan scoring a brace for the visitors inside the opening 30 minutes.
MELBOURNE VICTORY RETURN TO A-LEAGUE SUMMIT WITH SYDNEY WIN
Melbourne Victory returned to top spot in Australia with a 3-0 win over Sydney FC on Saturday. Daniel Arzani opened the scoring in the 20th minute and Zinedine Machach got the second with a clever finish over Adam Pavlesic four minutes later.
Bruno Fornaroli put the result beyond doubt as Victory moved onto 16 points from the first eight games of the season.
Macarthur FC and Wellington Phoenix meet at Campbelltown Stadium on Monday with both knowing a win would take them into pole position.
AUSTRALIA'S MUSCAT TAKES OVER AS SHANGHAI PORT COACH
Kevin Muscat has been named the new coach of Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port, two weeks after announcing he would leave Japan's Yokohama F Marinos.
The Australian, who won the 2022 J1 League title during his two-and-a-half year stint in Japan, replaces Javier Pereira after the Spaniard stood down having steered the club to their first Chinese league title since 2018.
YOKOHAMA DOWN SHANDONG TO BOOK ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SLOT
Yokohama booked their place in the Asian Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday after a 3-0 win over Shandong Taishan ensured Muscat departed the club on a high.
Elber, Anderson Lopes and Yan Matheus gave Marinos the win they needed to top Group G and qualify for the next round while Shandong also progressed after pipping South Korea's Incheon United to second place in the group.
In Group F, former champions Jeonbuk Hyundai beat already-qualified Bangkok United 3-2 to progress as one of the three best runners-up.
Yokohama, Shandong, Ulsan and Jeonbuk join a last 16 line-up that also features Japan's Ventforet Kofu and Kawasaki Frontale as well as Bangkok United and Pohang Steelers in the East Region side of the draw.
URAWA TO MEET MAN CITY IN CLUB WORLD CUP, AL-ITTIHAD EXIT
Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds beat Mexico's Club Leon 1-0 in Jeddah on Friday to set up a Club World Cup semi-final against European champions Manchester City.
Alex Schalk threaded his shot past Club Leon goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota 12 minutes from time while William Tesillo was sent off with six minutes remaining for the Mexican side as the reigning Asian champions progressed into the semis.
Asia's other representative, Saudi hosts Al-Ittihad, were eliminated after a 3-1 to Egypt's Al-Ahly. - Reuters
KW: football, Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo, Urawa Reds