Week in Asian Football: Thrilling Victories and Historic Wins

This week in Asian football saw key victories and dramatic finishes. Machida Zelvia, Ulsan Hyundai, Shanghai Shenhua, and Central Coast Mariners all secured wins that kept them on top of their respective leagues. Al-Ain clinched the Asian Champions League with a decisive win, marking a historic moment for the club.

Talking points from the week in Asian football:

SHIMODA'S LATE PENALTY KEEPS MACHIDA ON TOP IN JAPAN Machida Zelvia stayed top in Japan after Hokuto Shimoda's stoppage-time penalty secured a 2-1 win over Urawa Reds on Sunday.

Machida lead Kashima Antlers by three points after the former champions downed Consadole Sapporo 3-0 on Saturday, while current title holders Vissel Kobe dropped further off the pace following a 1-0 defeat by Tokyo Verdy. LUDWIGSON SCORES TWICE AS ULSAN THRASH DAEJEON

Defending champions Ulsan Hyundai went top of the Korean league on Saturday after Gustav Ludwigson's double helped them to a 4-1 win over Daejeon Citizen. Pohang Steelers dropped to second, one point behind Ulsan, after being held 2-2 by struggling FC Seoul.

SHENHUA MAINTAIN ADVANTAGE OVER PORT IN CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE Shanghai Shenhua continue to lead the Chinese Super League standings by three points from cross-city rivals Shanghai Port after a 1-0 win over Shenzhen Peng City on Sunday.

Cephas Malele scored the only goal of the game as Shenhua notched up their 11th win of the campaign. Reigning champions Shanghai Port beat Cangzhou Mighty Lions 4-1 with Oscar notching a hat-trick.

AL-AIN CROWNED ASIAN CHAMPIONS AFTER THRASHING YOKOHAMA Al-Ain hammered Japan's Yokohama F Marinos 5-1 at their Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday as the United Arab Emirates club won the Asian Champions League for the first time in 21 years with a 6-3 aggregate victory.

CENTRAL COAST COMPLETE TROPHY TREBLE Ryan Edmondson scored twice as Central Coast Mariners defeated Melbourne Victory 3-1 to win the A-League Championship. The win completed a trophy treble for Central Coast, who also claimed the AFC Cup and A-League Premiers Plate.