Semis delicately poised after first legs

The identity of the 2015 AFC Champions League finalists remains in the balance after China's Guangzhou Evergrande secured a narrow 2-1 win over Japan's Gamba Osaka in the first leg of their semifinal on Wednesday after Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal and Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates had earlier shared a 1-1 draw.

Huang Bowen and Zheng Zhi scored as 2013 winner Guangzhou edged out 2008 champion Gamba at Tianhe Sport Center, but with a potentially priceless away goal for Kenta Hasegawa's side courtesy of an own goal from defender Feng Xiaoting, the tie is well and truly up fro grabs ahead of the return meeting in three weeks.

And the contest to be the other finalist in the continental showpiece is even harder to call after two-time continental champion Al Hilal needed a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw with Al Ahli at King Fahd International Stadium on Tuesday.