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By Staff Writer
Mar 10 2010 12:47
Uzbek champions Bunyodkor continued their ominous start to the Asian Champions League with a 2-1 win over pointless Al Wahda in Abu Dhabi.
Brazilian striker Denilson scored twice as Luis Felipe Scolari's side maintained their 100% record in Group B after downing last year's finalists Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia with an impressive 3-0 win at home last month.
Denilson, who won the Asian Champions League last season with South Korea's Pohang Steelers after beating Bunyodkor in the last eight, headed home from the penalty spot nine minutes before the break after Al Wahda goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani had flapped at Victor Karpenko'c cross.
Denilson added a second from close range with five minutes remaining after Al Hosani failed to hold Jasur Hasanov's shot before Saeed Al Kathiri grabbed a consolation for Al Wahda with a minute remaining.
With Al Ittihad throwing away a 2-0 half-time lead to draw 2-2 with Iran's Zob Ahan, Bunyodkor top the table with a two-point cushion over Zob Ahan, with Al Ittihad a further three points adrift.
"It was a tough game and Al Wahda played well initially, but once we scored we decided to preserve the lead," said Scolari.
"It was our plan to score first and then defend and counter-attack. That is what we did and it is a good result."
In Jeddah, Al Ittihad were coasting as Abdul-Malik Ziaya opened the scoring after just 12 minutes before captain Mohammed Noor added a second four minutes before half-time.
But after Fahadi Esmaeil pulled one back for Zob Ahan five minutes into the second half, Mohammed Ghazi completed the comeback just two minutes later.
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