AFC Champions League 2018: Round of 16 Second Leg Review: East Zone

Goal

AFC Champions League 2018: Round of 16 Second Leg Review: East Zone image

 The AFC Champions League 2018 quarterfinals lineup is ready in the East Zone. Here is a recap of what happened this week:


Guangzhou Evergrande 2-2 Tianjin Quanjian (2-2 on Aggregate) (Goulart 17', 48'- Pato 19' Jie 52')


Tianjian Quanjian managed to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after a 2-2 second leg draw over Guangzhou Evergrande sent them through on away goals. 

The first leg had finished goalless and Guangzhou got off to a perfect start in front of their home fans. Ricardo Goulart fired home after Tianjin goalkeeper parried Alan's effort off his shin. However, former Milan man Alexandre Pato equalised with a vital away goal two minutes later. He headed home Axel Witsel's cross from the left wing. 

After the break, Goulart sent Guangzhou ahead again by converting a free-header from inside the six-yard box after a Li Xuepeng corner. But they were pegged back four minutes later as Wang Jie made it 2-2 after Wang Yongpo hooked a Pato freekick back across goal. 

Tianjin would hold on gallantly to seal progression on away goals. 


Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-0 Buriram United (4-2 on Aggregate) (Lopes 18' Jae-Sung Il 84')


South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai went through to the quarterfinals after a 2-0 second-leg win over Thailand's Buriram United on Tuesday. 

Trailing 2-3 from the first leg, Jeonbuk drew parity in the 18th minute of the game when Ricardo Lopes volleying home crisply after Kim Shin-wook had headed a Lee Yong cross back to him on the edge of the area.

That seemed to be enough for the South Korean outfit as they held their opponents at bay comfortably throughout the match. Buriram's hopes of a winning goal were crushed in the 84th minute by Lee Jae-sung who curled a delicious free-kick over the wall to make it 2-0 and 4-3 on aggregate, enough to seal Jeonbuk's progression. 


Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-0 Ulsan Hyundai (3-1 on Aggregate) (Gun-Hee 26', 31' Waguininho 90+1')


Suwon Bluewings overcame a first-leg deficit as well to progress to the quarter-finals at the expense of Ulsan Hyundai who were beaten 3-0 in the second leg. 

Suwon started on the right note and got their equaliser on aggregate when Kim Gun-hee headed home Lee Ki-Je's pinpoint free-kick in the 26th minute. Five minutes later, he made it 2-0 and 2-1 on aggregate with a cool finish after being set up by Waguininho. 

Ulsan Hyundai were handed a massive chance to come back into the game when Kwak Kwang-seon fouled Richard Windbichler in the box just before the hour mark. But Mislav Orsic failed to convert the penalty. Waguininho went on to pile the misery on Ulsan with an injury-time goal that sealed the deal for Suwon. 


Shanghai SIPG 2-1 Kashima Antlers (3-4 on Aggregate) (Hulk 7', 81' - Doi 42') 


China's Shanghai SIPG failed to make it to the quarter-finals despite winning their second leg match against Kashima Antlers 2-1 on Wednesday. 

Shanghai, trailing 3-1 from the first leg, got off to a good start when star forward Hulk fired them ahead as he capitalised on an error by Gen Shoji in the seventh minute. However, Kashima got a vital away goal to equalise just before the break when Shoma Doi cheekily flicked home a low cross from the left by Koki Anzai. 

It meant Shanghai had to score twice to force extra-time. But they failed to do that despite Hulk managing to score one in the 81st minute to set up a grandstand finish. But Kashima Antlers would hold on gallantly. 

 

 

Goal

Goal Photo

Goal.com is the premier destination for football fans across the globe, with all the best news, transfer updates, analysis and highlights.

Goal.com and The Sporting News are partnering to bring you insights into the game like never before.