First-half goals by Kim Dong-hun and Son Dae-ho, plus a sensational Mota strike 18 minutes from time, helped the Korean side to avenge their 2-1 defeat in Shandong on Matchday Two.

The two sides finished level on 13 points at the top of Group G but Seongnam's better record in the head-to-head meetings between the two sides saw the 2004 runners-up advance to the knockout stage.

Shandong only needed to avoid defeat by more than one goal to progress but they came into the match with a depleted side as goalkeeper Li Leilei and striker Li Jinyu were suspended and dynamic young midfielder Wang Yongpo was ruled out with a broken foot.

Yang Cheng took Li Leilei's place in goal but the reserve keeper looked far from convincing in the opening minutes when he flapped weakly at an in-swinging corner. The loose ball fell to Cho Byung-kuk on the edge of the box but Gao Yao managed to deflect his shot over the crossbar.

Despite an early flurry by the home side, the first half proved to be a largely scrappy affair with both sides struggling to maintain possession and create chances.

The game only really came to life on 38 minutes when Seongnam launched a quick counter attack after goalkeeper Kim Yong-dae had stopped an effort by Cui Peng.

Kim Do-heon played a long diagonal ball from the halfway line towards Kim, who was lurking with intent on the right edge of the Shandong box.

The Seongnam striker took advantage of Yang's hesitation to flick the ball past the Shandong goalkeeper before heading past defender Nikola Malbasa from an acute angle.

The buoyant K-League side extended their lead four minutes later when Kim Do-heon swung in a free-kick from near the left touchline and Son out-jumped Malbasa at the near post to glance the ball past Yang into the far corner of the net.

Choi Sung-kuk could have added to his side's lead three minutes after the break when he surged clear of the Shandong defence. However, Yang made up for his earlier mistake by pushing aside the Korea Republic international's effort.

Choi threatened again in the 52nd minute when he ran down the left channel and saw his effort cleared off the line by Gao Yao. Choi regained possession but his follow-up went just wide of the upright.

The visitors were struggling to create any opening for themselves but could have got the goal they needed three minutes later when Malbasa's through ball found Han Peng breaking into the Seongnam box on the left. However, his shot from a tight angle went well wide of the target.

On the hour, Han went even closer as he headed Aleksandar Zivkovic's corner kick against the crossbar.

Zhou Haibin and Lu Zhang also threatened for the visitors but their hopes were effectively extinguished in the 72nd minute when Seongnam scored their third goal.

Mota received the ball from Kim and escaped the attentions of Zhou Haibin before unleashing a fierce left-footed drive from 25 yards that swerved past a bemused Yang.

Yang did well to deny an unmarked Kim his second of the game with four minutes remaining but the Chinese side were well beaten by that stage.