Former continental champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Suwon Samsung, Seongnam FC, Al Ain, Al Sadd and Al Hilal as well as Kashiwa Reysol and Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia secured qualification for the last 16 of the AFC Champions League this week.
Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande, who won the continental title in 2013, booked their place in the Round of 16 despite being held to a goalless draw by Korea Republicâs FC Seoul on Tuesday.
FC Seoul are still in contention to join Guangzhou in the last 16, although Japanâs Kashima Antlers beat defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia 2-1 to put the pair level on points in Group H heading into the final round of fixtures next month.
Western Sydney must now defeat Guangzhou in their final game and hope Kashima and FC Seoul draw, with the winner at Kashima Soccer Stadium guaranteed progress to the last 16.
âI am very happy that we made certain of first place in the group,â said Guangzhou coach Fabio Cannavaro.
âIt was a really tough game but the effort that the players put in and their mentality was admirable.â
Koreaâs Suwon secured their spot in the last 16 from Group G with a 2-1 win over Japanâs Urawa Red Diamonds that also eliminated the 2007 champions, while Chinaâs Beijing Guoan lost 1-0 to a resurgent A-League champions Brisbane Roar.
Two goals from Kosuke Taketomi, meanwhile, ensured Japanâs Kashiwa advanced to the Round of 16 from Group E following a 3-2 win over Koreaâs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
And with Shandong Luneng beating already-eliminated Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong 3-1 in Jinan, K-League Classic champions Jeonbuk must avoid defeat at home to the Chinese Super League side next month to ensure their progress.
Fellow Korean side Seongnam, though, are already guaranteed a place in the knockout stage with a game to spare after beating Thailandâs Buriram United 2-1 in Group F.
Seongnam are currently three points clear of Buriram and Japanâs Gamba Osaka at the top of the table after the 2008 champions pulled themselves back into contention with a 5-0 thrashing of Guangzhou R&F which eliminated the Chinese Super League side.
Elsewhere, inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain guaranteed their progress with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabiaâs Al Shabab in Riyadh that moved Zlatko Dalicâs side to the top of the standings in Group B, one point ahead of Iranâs Naft Tehran, who were held to a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistanâs Pakhtakor.
Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute and the win means Al Ain cannot finish any lower than second in the group thanks to their better head-to-head record against Pakhtakor.
âI want to congratulate the players for the victory as we secured our place in the knockout stage,â said Dalic.
âWe will continue our good results in the next matches and our aim now is to finish on top of the group. I hope that we can get another win in the last match and continue our good results in the competition.â
Qatarâs Al Sadd and Saudi Arabiaâs Al Hilal booked their places in the Round of 16 from Group C thanks to wins over Lokomotiv Tashkent and Foolad respectively, while Al Ahli from Saudi Arabiaâs beat Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates 1-0 to ensure their progress from Group D.
Finally, Qatarâs Lekhwiya moved to the top of Group A with a 3-0 win over Iranâs Persepolis and the pair as well as Saudi Arabiaâs Al Nassr â who defeated Uzbekistanâs 1-0 Bunyodkor â remain in contention to progress.
CAPTION – Former continental champions Guangzhou Evergrande advanced to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League following a goalless draw with Korea Republicâs FC Seoul on Tuesday.
