HONG KONG: Talking points from the week in Asian football:
AL-HILAL SET WORLD RECORD WITH 28TH CONSECUTIVE VICTORY
Al-Hilal set a world record with their 28th straight win in all competitions on Tuesday after wrapping up a place in the Asian Champions League (ACL) semi-finals.
Yasser Al-Shahrani struck in the 61st minute and Malcom added a second deep in added time as Al-Hilal secured a 2-0 win over fellow Saudi side Al-Ittihad to advance 4-0 on aggregate.
The victory saw Al-Hilal eclipse Welsh club The New Saints' run of 27 wins in 2016-17.
Al-Hilal face Al-Ain in the semi-finals next month after the United Arab Emirates side eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in a penalty shootout in Riyadh.
YOKOHAMA FACE ULSAN IN SEMIS AFTER WIN OVER CHINA'S SHANDONG
Yokohama F Marinos will face South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai in the ACL semi-finals after beating Shandong Taishan 1-0 to complete a 3-1 aggregate win over the Chinese side.
Anderson Lopes scored 15 minutes from time for the hosts, who were reduced to 10 men in the 47th minute after Katsuya Nagato was sent off.
Ulsan booked their berth in the last four with a 1-0 win over fellow Koreans Jeonbuk Motors to complete a 2-1 aggregate win. The semi-finals will be played on April 17 and 24.
MICHAEL HEADS IN LATE WINNER AS AL-HILAL REMAIN ON TRACK
In the Saudi Pro League, Brazilian winger Michael scored three minutes into added time as Al-Hilal maintained their push for the title with a 2-1 win over Damak yesterday.
Al-Hilal's Salem Al-Dawsari scored the opener in the 79th minute before Domagoj Antolic made it 1-1 with four minutes remaining, only for Michael to nod home in injury time.
Al-Hilal hold a 12-point lead over Al-Nassr, who beat Al-Ahli 1-0 thanks to a Ronaldo penalty on Saturday.
BARBAROUSES' STRIKE TAKES WELLINGTON BACK TO SUMMIT
A second-half solo effort from Kosta Barbarouses saw Wellington Phoenix come back from a goal down to defeat Sydney FC 2-1 and reclaim top spot in the A-League on Saturday.
The New Zealand-based outfit moved three points clear of Central Coast Mariners, whose meeting with Melbourne City was postponed due to their involvement in the AFC Cup.
Macarthur FC beat Brisbane Roar 2-1 to remain third while Western Sydney Wanderers retained their place in the top six with a 2-1 win over Perth Glory.
THIRD WIN IN A ROW MOVES NEW BOYS MACHIDA INTO TOP SPOT
Machida Zelvia went two points clear in Japan with a 2-1 win over Consadole Sapporo on Saturday after goals from Shota Fujio and Ibrahim Dresevic earned the newly-promoted club a third straight league win.
Machida have 10 points after four games, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Cerezo Osaka both on eight. Hiroshima were held 0-0 by defending champions Vissel Kobe, who are a point further adrift. -REUTERS