HONG KONG: Talking points from the week in Asian football:
ULSAN SCORE LATE TO SEAL TOP SPOT IN K-LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON
Late goals from Yago Cariello and Ko Seung-beom earned Ulsan HD a 2-1 win over second-placed Gimcheon Sangmoo that ensured Kim Pan-gon's side claimed first place at the end of the K-League's regular season.
Mo Jae-hyeon had given the lead to Gimcheon, who needed to win to climb into pole position, in the 22nd minute but, after Ko levelled the score in the 76th minute, Yago struck four minutes later to secure first place for the defending champions.
The league will now split in half, with the top six finishers - Ulsan, Gimcheon, Gangwon FC, Pohang Steelers, FC Seoul and Suwon FC - featuring in the five-match championship rounds, which begin in late October.
MITROVIC'S BRACE KEEPS AL-HILAL PERFECT IN SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored twice as Al-Hilal came back from going a goal behind to win 2-1 against Al-Ahli and maintain their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season.
Gabri Veiga gave Al-Ahli a 12th minute lead after rounding goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and it took Al-Hilal until the 56th minute to pull level, Mitrovic netting with a cushioned downward header into the bottom corner.
The former Fulham striker scored from the penalty spot with 12 minutes left to put Al-Hilal in front as Jorge Jesus' side won their sixth game in a row to remain three points clear of second-placed Al-Ittihad.
LATE KATO HEADER MAINTAINS HIROSHIMA'S J-LEAGUE ADVANTAGE
Mutsuki Kato's 78th minute header earned Sanfrecce Hiroshima a 2-1 over Jubilo Iwata on Sunday that keeps Michael Skibbe's side one point clear at the top of the J-League standings.
Kato's winner came after Ko Matsubara had cancelled out Sho Sasaki's 41st minute opener for Sanfreece, who continue to top the table ahead of Vissel Kobe after the defending champions won 3-2 against Kyoto Sanga.
Machida Zelvia's challenge for a first J-League title suffered another blow with a 4-1 loss against Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday that saw the second division champions drop six points off the lead with five games remaining.
AL-AIN STILL WINLESS IN ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TITLE DEFENCE
Defending champions Al-Ain remain without a win in the Asian Champions League Elite after Hernan Crespo's side slumped to a 3-2 loss against Qatar's Al-Gharafa on Tuesday.
But last season's runners-up, Yokohama F Marinos, bounced back from their opening day loss to thrash Ulsan HD 4-0 in the eastern side of the draw.