Former winners Gamba Osaka and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors joined Beijing Guoan, FC Seoul, Emirati club Al Ahli, Naft Tehran, Lekhwiya and Persepolis in claiming the remaining places in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League this week, although defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers were eliminated.
The eight teams will line up in the two-legged Round of 16 alongside Kashiwa Reysol, Guangzhou Evergrande, Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal, Al Ain, Al Sadd and Seongnam FC who had qualified ahead of the final round of group ties.
Former finalists FC Seoul were among four sides from the Korea Republic to book their place in the second phase, but did so in dramatic fashion as a stoppage time winner from former winner Mauricio Molina secured a 3-2 victory over Japanâs Kashima Antlers that took Choi Yong-sooâs side through as Group H runners-up ahead of Australiaâs Western Sydney.
âThe result was more important than the performance, and so our players played with a very high concentration and displayed their full focus and capabilities,â said Choi following Tuesdayâs win in Japan.
âWe often discussed that we would have to win to get through to the next round, and we spoke about this again at half-time, so we stayed with our attacking football throughout.â
Semi-finalists last year, FC Seoul will now face J.League champions Gamba Osaka after the 2008 winners defeated Seongnam 2-1 in Japan to win Group F.
Kim Hak-bumâs Seongnam side, meanwhile, will face Chinaâs Guangzhou Evergrande who had already won Group H before Tuesdayâs 2-0 defeat to Western Sydney, who bowed out of the tournament after finishing just a point behind second-placed FC Seoul.
K-League Classic champions Jeonbuk also finished in second place behind Japanâs Kashiwa Reysol in Group E after cruising past Chinaâs Shandong Luneng 4-1 in their winner-take-all encounter in Jeonju on Wednesday to secure a meeting with Group G winners Beijing Guoan.
The Chinese capital city club shared the points with already-qualified Suwon Samsung the day before to clinch the group by virtue of their superior head-to-head record over the Koreans, who will play a Kashiwa after the Japanese side lost 1-0 to Vietnamâs Becamex Binh Duong in their final group stage tie.
In the West, Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates were indebted to a pair of late headers from captain Ahmed Khalil to secure a 3-2 win over Iranâs Tractorsazi Tabriz which, coupled with Nasafâs goalless draw with Group D winners Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, secured them a Round of 16 tie with compatriots and Group B table toppers Al Ain.
âOur main target was to advance to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League and now we achieved our target,â said Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu.
âWe expected a tough match, but our players played with a great fighting spirit which helped us to win.â
Group B runners-up Naft Tehran from Iran will face-off against Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, despite losing 3-0 in Al Ain of the UAE after Al Shabab posted a surprise 2-0 win over Pakhtakor.
Finally on Tuesday, Saudi Arabiaâs Al Hilal secured top spot in Group C following a 2-1 win over runners-up and fellow former Asian champions Al Sadd, while Iranâs Foolad Khouzestan claimed third place with a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistanâs Lokomotiv.
Al Hilal will face Group A runner-up Persepolis from Iran, who advanced thanks to a 2-1 win over Uzbekistanâs Bunyodkor, while Al Sadd will take on Group A winners and fellow Qatar Stars League side Lekhwiya.
CAPTION â Former finalists FC Seoul from Korea Republic edged out Japanâs Kashima Antlers 3-2 to secure a meeting with J.League champions Gamba Osaka in the last 16 of the AFC Champions
