HONG KONG, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Talking points from the week in Asian football:
CSL LEADERS PORT LOSE SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
Zhejiang FC fought back from two goals down to beat Shanghai Port 4-3 on Saturday as the Chinese Super League leaders saw their advantage over Shanghai Shenhua reduced to 11 points.
Port took a fourth-minute lead when Lucas Joao scored from close range but Nyasha Mushekwi levelled three minutes before the break with a powerful downward header.
Oscar restored Port's lead from the penalty spot in first-half added time and Lucas Joao pounced to score his second 10 minutes after the restart as the leaders looked set to claim their 17th win of the campaign.
But two goals in seven minutes from Franko Andrijasevic levelled the scores and Zhejiang took the points, despite Sun Zhengao's 90th minute red card, when Mushekwi netted an added-time winner after Jean Kouassi's penalty was initially saved.
Shenhua conceded an early goal against Wuhan Three Towns but went on to beat the defending champions 2-1 through goals from Cephas Malele and Ibrahim Amadou.
OSAKO ON TARGET TO KEEP VISSEL KOBE ON TOP IN JAPAN
Yuya Osako scored his 17th goal of the season as Vissel Kobe remained top in Japan with a 1-0 win over 10-man Kawasaki Frontale, while second-placed Yokohama F Marinos beat Gamba 2-1.
Former Japan international Osako bent his 39th minute free kick into the top corner, three minutes after Takuma Ominami was sent off, to earn Kobe their 14th win of the campaign and stay ahead of Yokohama on goal difference.
Defending champions Yokohama handed Gamba their first defeat in nine games when Anderson Lopes scored from the penalty spot six minutes into the second half after Yan Matheus had seen his opener cancelled out by Ryotaro Meshino.
Third-placed Nagoya Grampus remain two points adrift following their 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers, with Yuki Kogami scoring the game's only goal in the 37th minute.
ULSAN'S LEAD TRIMMED IN KOREA AFTER DEFEAT TO GANGWON
Ulsan Hyundai's faltering form continued on Saturday as the leaders slipped to a third defeat in five games with a 2-0 loss against struggling Gangwon FC.
Hong Myung-bo's side continue to lead the standings by 11 points but the defeat in Gangneung means Ulsan have only picked up four points from their last five games.
Seo Min-woo and Yago Cariello were on target for Gangwon, who moved off the bottom of the 12-team league as a result of the win.
Second-placed Pohang Steelers failed to take full advantage of the slip-up, however, with Kim Gi-dong's side drawing 1-1 with Gwangju.
Jeonbuk Motors consolidated their hold on third place with a 1-1 draw against Suwon Bluewings.
FIRMINO HAT-TRICK EARNS AL-AHLI OPENING WIN IN SAUDI ARABIA
Al-Ahli striker Roberto Firmino notched a debut hat-trick to secure a 3-1 home win over Al-Hazm in the opening fixture of the Saudi Pro League season on Friday.
The former Liverpool forward scored twice in the opening 10 minutes before the Brazilian's third in the 72nd sealed the win for the newly-promoted team.
Al-Ahli and Al-Hazm were two of the four clubs promoted to the Saudi top flight, which has increased from 16 teams to 18 this season.
Reigning champions Al-Ittihad, who have signed Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema from Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante, play their first game on Monday at Al-Raed.
JAPAN EXIT BUT AUSTRALIA INTO SEMIS AT WOMEN'S WORLD CUP
Australia are the last Asian confederation side left standing at the Women's World Cup after they beat France 7-6 in a penalty shoot-out while Japan exited following a 2-1 loss to Sweden.
Futoshi Ikeda's side were 2-0 down to goals from Amanda Ilestedet and Filippa Angeldahl, with Japan's Riko Ueki missing the opportunity to halve the deficit when her penalty thumped against the crossbar.
Honoka Hayashi pulled one back for Japan but it was not enough to spark a comeback for the 2011 champions.
"I saw the team grow, the players grew at this World Cup, and we were able to demonstrate Japan's Nadeshiko football on the global stage," said Ikeda.
Australia advanced to the semi-finals for the first time when Cortnee Vine hit the winning penalty in Brisbane and will take on England for a place in the final.
Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford
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