Soccer-The week in Asian football

Talking points from the week in Asian football:

AL-HILAL FIGHT BACK TO KEEP SAUDI TITLE CHARGE ON TRACK Al-Hilal continued their march to the Saudi Pro League title with a 3-1 victory over defending champions Al-Ittihad on Saturday as Jorge Jesus' side came back from a goal down to pick up their 20th win of the campaign.

N'golo Kante gave Al-Ittihad a 12th minute lead but goals from Saleh Al-Shehri, Malcom and Saud Abdulhamid earned Al-Hilal a win that takes them nine points clear after their nearest rivals Al-Nassr were held to a 4-4 draw by Al-Hazm. LINGARD FAILS TO STOP FC SEOUL SLIPPING TO OPENING DAY LOSS

Jesse Lingard's late introduction from the bench for his K League debut could not prevent FC Seoul from losing their season opener 2-0 to Gwangju FC on Saturday. The former England midfielder, who joined the club on a free transfer in February, was introduced in the 77th minute with Seoul trailing to Lee Hui-gyun's goal. Gabriel Tigrao sealed the points for Gwangju with his side's second in the 97th minute. Defending champions Ulsan HD kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win over Pohang Steelers while nine-times champions Jeonbuk Motors drew 1-1 with Daejon Citizen.

KINOSHITA'S LATE WINNER DOWNS CHAMPIONS VISSEL KOBE IN JAPAN Kosuke Kinoshita scored seven minutes from time as Kashiwa Reysol beat defending champions Vissel Kobe 1-0 on Saturday.

Kashima Antlers were held 1-1 by Cerezo Osaka but remain top as one of six teams on four points after two games. Last season's runners-up Yokohama F Marinos lost 1-0 to Avispa Fukuoka.

OLD DOUBLE MAINTAINS WELLINGTON'S LEAD IN A-LEAGUE Benjamin Old scored twice as Wellington Phoenix notched a 3-2 victory over Adelaide United on Sunday to maintain their three-point lead over Central Coast Mariners in the A-League.

Old scored either side of an Oskar van Hattum goal as Wellington moved onto 40 points from 20 games, with Central Coast defeating Newcastle Jets 1-0 on Saturday. Macarthur FC won 2-0 against Melbourne City on Friday to move ahead of Melbourne Victory, who lost 3-2 against Brisbane Roar.

AUSTRALIA, JAPAN CLAIM ASIAN BERTHS AT OLYMPIC GAMES The Australian women's team handed Uzbekistan a 10-0 thrashing in Melbourne in front of a sold-out crowd at Docklands Stadium on Wednesday to complete a 13-0 aggregate win and claim one of Asia's two berths at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Tony Gustavsson's side will be joined by Japan after they squeezed past North Korea, registering a 2-1 win at National Stadium in Tokyo after a scoreless first leg.

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