The week in Asian football

Talking points from the week in Asian football:

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS KOBE GO TOP IN JAPAN

Vissel Kobe went top of the J.League with a 2-1 win over Fagiano Okayama on Sunday, with Kashiwa Reysol knocked off top spot following a 3-2 defeat by Kashima Antlers.

Second-half goals from Brazilian forward Erik and Japan international Taisei Miyashiro gave defending champions Kobe a two-goal lead in Okayama before Ataru Esaka pulled one back in stoppage time for the hosts.

Kashiwa fought back from two goals down before Kashima's Yuta Matsumoto hit the winner in added time.

SHANGHAI SHENHUA DOWN RIVALS BEIJING GUOAN TO MOVE CLEAR

Shanghai Shenhua opened up a three-point lead in the Chinese Super League with a 3-1 win over nearest rivals Beijing Guoan in front of more than 62,000 fans at Workers Stadium in Beijing.

Luis Asue put visitors Shenhua in front with a seventh minute header and midfielder Wu Xi doubled their advantage 14 minutes later when he finished off a counterattack.

Portuguese midfielder Guga pulled one back for Beijing in the 26th minute but Yu Hanchao's goal seven minutes into stoppage time completed the win for Shenhua.

JEONBUK MOTORS EXTEND K-LEAGUE LEAD WITH LATE POHANG WIN

Jeonbuk Motors extended their lead in South Korea to 12 points on Saturday with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Pohang Steelers, while nearest challengers Daejeon Citizen were held 2-2 by Gangwon FC.

Gus Poyet's table-toppers were two down at the end of the first half in Pohang, but goals from Lee Seung-woo and Tiago Orobo pulled them level before Lee Ho-jae scored the winner five minutes into added time. REUTERS