Unquestionably one of the most prolific players to participate in the AFC Champions League since the tournament revamp in 2002-2003, made more history on March 13 when Suwon Samsung Bluewings forward Damjanovic fired in his third goal of the 2018 campaign.

Not only did the strike end the deadlock with China's Shanghai Shenhua and pave the way to a 2-0 win that keeps the Koreans firmly on track for a place in the Round of 16, but it was the 36-year-old's 30th goal in the AFC Champions League, leaving him out alone in second place on the all-time scorers list.

The-AFC.com caught up with the former Montenegro international to reflect on his achievements so far.

Defences were on top in the early stages and it took until the 24th minute for a clear chance to be created. Kim Jong-woo made space for the shot on the edge of the Shenhua area but his low effort was well held by Li Shuai.

Im Sang-hyeob curled a shot wide after Dejan Damjanovic’s lay-off as Suwon continued to be the more enterprising side, but No Dong-geon then had to be quick off his line to punch clear as Obafemi Martins challenged for a bouncing ball.

It was the away side who made the breakthrough six minutes into the second half when Kim Jong-woo pulled the ball back and Damjanovic side footed home with an excellent finish from 16 yards.

As Shenhua tried to battle back into the game, Giovanni Moreno was inches away from connecting with a diving header in the 59th minute.

The home side started to exert some pressure and after good work from Martins on the right, Fredy Guarin had two efforts blocked.

But the killer second goal came in the 88th minute when Damjanovic’s flick-on was cushioned down by Waguininho before fellow substitute Choi Sung-keun rifled home from just inside the penalty area.

The result leaves Shenhua third in the group with three points from their four games, while Suwon remain second on seven points, one point behind leaders Kashima Antlers.

Both teams have home fixtures on Matchday Five and Shenhua must win when they host Kashima to stay in the tournament, while Suwon can seal qualification for the last 16 with a win over Sydney FC.

 

As ever in Tehran, the competition sparked fever pitch as fans of the Islamic Republic of Iran giants turned up in the tens of thousands to witness the 1-1 draw between two-time continental champions Esteghlal and inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain.

Mame Baba Thiam put the hosts a goal up from the spot just before half-time before Tsukasa Shiotani levelled with 12 minutes to play as Esteghlal remained top of the standings, two points ahead of third-place Al Ain who have drawn four from four.

The home side picked up from where they left off in Sydney last week and immediately took control of the match, taking a deserved lead midway through the first half when Mu Kanazaki was left free at the back post to head into an open net.

Go Oiwa’s men continued to control the match in the second half and looked the most likely to score again, as Kanazaki and Yuma Suzuki continually caused trouble for Sydney FC’s defence with their passing and movement.

But with 20 minutes left to play it was the visitors who equalised against the run of play.

Polish midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski produced a defence-splitting pass to play in Luke Wilkshire down the left, with the former Socceroo’s cross to the back post headed over the line by Matt Simon.

Just over five minutes later, Mierzejewski almost turned provider again, slipping in a ball for Alex Brosque, but he pulled his shot agonisingly wide.

At the other end some last ditch defending from Aaron Calver and Alex Wilkinson kept Kashima at bay and ensured Sydney FC left Japan with a point in their pocket.

The result keeps Kashima Antlers on top of Group H on eight points, and likely to progress to the Round of 16, while Sydney FC remain rooted to the bottom of the group with just two points.

 

The home side had the first good effort on goal when Lee Chang-min struck a powerful shot just wide in the eighth minute.

Guangzhou created an opening when Ricardo Goulart chested the ball into the path of Alan but the Brazilian couldn’t get his shot on target.

The visitors then took the lead with a glorious strike in the 27th minute. After good work on the left, Alan teed up Nemanja Gudelj and the midfielder rifled an unstoppable shot into the top right-hand corner from 20 yards out.

The Chinese side went two ahead 10 minutes later when Alan stole in to head home Yu Hanchao’s deep cross from just inside the six-yard box.

Guangzhou threatened at the start of the second half as Goulart’s 20-yard shot was pushed wide by Lee Chang-geun before the Jeju keeper beat out an effort from Gao Lin.

A minute later Ryu Seung-woo ran onto a long ball but Zeng Cheng came out to block his shot.

Zeng Cheng was called upon again as he made an acrobatic save to keep out Lee Chang-min’s excellent free-kick in the 63rd minute.

Jeju kept pushing but Guangzhou defended well as they moved one step closer to the last 16.

And the match ended on a sour note for Jeju as Kim Won-il received his second yellow card in added time.

The result leaves Guangzhou three points clear of Buriram United and Cerezo Osaka at the top of the group with eight points from their four games, while Jeju remain bottom on three points.

Both teams have away fixtures on Matchday Five, with Jeju at Cerezo Osaka, while Guangzhou travel to Thailand to face Buriram United where they can seal qualification for the last 16 with a win.

 

Played at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, the home side started brightly and took the lead inside 10 minutes when Wang Yongpo finished off some nice lead up work from Pato and Modeste.

Modeste should have doubled the lead on 35 minutes when Axel Witsel headed back across goal to the Frenchman, who somehow headed wide from two yards out with an open net in front of him.

Tianjin were left to rue that miss just two minutes later when Kim Shin-wook, who scored a hat-trick against them last week, found the net again to draw the visitors level.

Brazilian star Pato produced a piece of brilliance eight minutes into the second half, combining exquisitely with Witsel before driving into the area and firing a shot that rattled the crossbar.

The home side wouldn’t have to wait long to take the lead, however, with Zhang Cheng’s header in the 55th minute putting them ahead 2-1.

But Jeonbuk rallied once again and equalised with just over 20 minutes to go when Tianjin failed to clear their lines and Adriano bundled the ball home after a slight deflection off Zheng Cheng.

After spurning earlier chances, Modeste finally got the goal he was after in the 84th minute. The Frenchman got on the end of Zhao Xuri’s ball over the top of the Jeonbuk defence, beating Song Beom-keun to the ball and chipping the keeper to put his side 3-2 ahead, before Pato sealed the win and all three points with a goal in injury time.

The win keeps Tianjin Quanjian in second spot in Group E, now just two points behind Jeonbuk Hyundai who remain in top spot, but importantly they now sit three points clear of third-placed Kashiwa Reysol.