Soccer-The week in Asian football

South Korea's exit from the Asian Cup following a 2-0 loss to Jordan extended their 64-year wait for a third title and led to calls from fans and some politicians for the 59-year-old's dismissal. KFA President Chung Mong-gyu said Klinsmann's tenure fell short of expectations.

Talking points from the week in Asian football:

MITROVIC BRACE SEALS ANOTHER WIN FOR UNBEATEN AL-HILAL Aleksandar Mitrovic took his tally to 19 league goals for the season after the Serb scored twice in Al-Hilal's 3-1 win over Al-Raed in the Saudi Pro League on Sunday to maintain their seven-point lead over Riyadh rivals Al-Nassr.

A close-range finish in the third minute was followed by a 29th minute penalty for the former Fulham striker, with Kalidou Koulibaly adding the third seven minutes after the restart to ensure Al-Hilal remain unbeaten in 20 league games. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in Al-Nassr's 2-1 win over Al-Fateh on Sunday to claim his 21st goal of the league campaign, with Otavio hitting the winner 18 minutes from time after Salem Al Najdi had equalised for the visitors.

LATE GOALS PUT AL-HILAL IN POSITION TO PROGRESS IN ACL Stoppage-time goals from Mitrovic and Abdullah Al Hamddan helped Al-Hilal come from behind to beat Iran's Sepahan 3-1 on Thursday and move a step closer to the Asian Champions League quarter-finals.

Ronaldo hit the only goal as Al-Nassr beat fellow Saudi side Al-Fayha 1-0, Al-Ittihad were held 0-0 by Uzbekistan's Navbahor and Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates drew 0-0 with Nasaf from Uzbekistan. Ulsan Hyundai downed Japanese second division side Ventforet Kofu 3-0 while Jeonbuk Motors won 2-0 in the first leg of their battle with fellow South Korean side Pohang Steelers.

Kawasaki Frontale from Japan hold a 3-2 advantage over Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan while Yokohama F Marinos gave up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Bangkok United. BARBAROUSES DOUBLES UP AS WELLINGTON MAINTAIN A-LEAGUE LEAD

Two goals from Kosta Barbarouses earned Wellington Phoenix a 2-1 win over Macarthur FC on Sunday to maintain the New Zealand-based side's five-point lead in Australia. Barbarouses opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 31st minute and scored his second goal 17 minutes from time before Bernardo Oliveira pulled a goal back for Macarthur five minutes later, his first A-League goal for the club.

Second-placed Central Coast Mariners beat Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 thanks to Mikael Doka's 83rd minute penalty. SOUTH KOREA SACK KLINSMANN AFTER ASIAN CUP SEMI-FINAL EXIT

Juergen Klinsmann was sacked from his role as South Korea head coach on Friday after his side's semi-final exit at the Asian Cup and amid criticism of his leadership. South Korea's exit from the Asian Cup following a 2-0 loss to Jordan extended their 64-year wait for a third title and led to calls from fans and some politicians for the 59-year-old's dismissal.

KFA President Chung Mong-gyu said Klinsmann's tenure fell short of expectations. "Coach Klinsmann failed to demonstrate leadership that we expected from the national team coach, including game management, player management and work attitude, which elevate the competitiveness of the national team," Chung said.

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