MORENO HAT-TRICK HELPS AUCKLAND EXTEND A-LEAGUE ADVANTAGE
Auckland FC extended their lead in Australia's A-League to eight points with a 6-1 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix as second-placed Adelaide United lost 3-0 to Western United.
Neyder Moreno scored a hat-trick while Logan Rogerson added a brace as Auckland cruised to their 12th victory of the campaign.
Goals from Noah Botic, Hiroshi Ibusuki and Riku Danzaki gave Western United a 3-0 win over Adelaide that moved them into third, level on 29 points with fourth-placed Melbourne Victory.
GUSTAVO DOUBLE HELPS SHANGHAI PORT TO WINNING START IN CSL
Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port made a winning start to the defence of their title on Sunday as Kevin Muscat's team beat Shenzhen Peng City 3-1.
Matheus Jussa put Shanghai in front in the third minute before Gustavo doubled the lead and, while Matt Orr pulled one back for the visitors, Gustavo's stoppage time spot-kick sealed the points.
Beijing Guoan defeated Yunnan Yukun 2-0 while there were also wins for Shanghai Shenhua against Changchun Yatai and Chengdu Rongcheng over former champions Wuhan Three Towns.
SHIMIZU LEAD EARLY J-LEAGUE STANDINGS WITH WIN OVER NIIGATA
Shimizu S-Pulse beat Albirex Niigata 2-0 to maintain their winning start to the J-League season, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Shonan Bellmare also picked up their second wins of the campaign.
Hiroshima, runners-up last season, defeated Yokohama F Marinos 1-0 on Sunday while Shonan recorded a 2-1 win over Cerezo Osaka a day earlier.
Defending champions Vissel Kobe remain winless, picking up a second point of the season with a 2-2 draw against Nagoya Grampus.
PERFECT DAEGU FC TAKE TWO-POINT LEAD IN SOUTH KOREA
Daegu downed Suwon 3-1 at home on Saturday to open up a two-point gap in the K-League and remain the only team with a perfect record after two games.
Bruno Lamas's penalty put the hosts ahead before a Lee Yong own goal and Caio Marcelo effort made it 3-0. Suwon pulled one back in stoppage time.
Jeonbuk Motors are on four points after being held 2-2 by Gwangju, with champions Ulsan HD are one of seven clubs on three points after their 2-0 victory over Daejeon Citizen.
UAE LAUNCHES BID TO HOST ASIAN CUP FINALS IN 2031
The United Arab Emirates Football Association announced on Friday it had submitted a bid to host the 2031 edition of the Asian Cup, 12 years after the Gulf state last organised the continental championship.
The two most recent tournaments have also been played in the Middle East, with Qatar organising - and winning - the 2023 edition while Saudi Arabia is due to host the finals in 2027.
BERGWIJN HITS DOUBLE TO MOVE AL-ITTIHAD SEVEN POINTS CLEAR
Al-Ittihad beat defending champions Al-Hilal 4-1 on Saturday to move seven points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League.