Chinese champions Beijing Guoan beat Japan'sKawasaki Frontale 2-0 at Beijing Workers' Stadium today to advance into the last 16 of the Asian Champions League.
After surviving an early onslaught from the visitors who needed a win to advance at the expense of Beijing, Australian striker Joel Griffiths broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time before Brazilian strike partner Erivaldo sealed the win at the start of the second half.
With Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa already assured of qualification as Group E winners, Beijing secured second place to earn a daunting trip to face K-League champions and Group G winners Suwon Bluewings in the one-off last 16 in two weeks.
With three points a must for Kawasaki, the visitors started strongly as Hiroyuki Taniguchi fired wide and Beijing goalkeeper Yang Zhi denied Yusuke Mori inside the first 15 minutes.
Yusuke Igawa and Hiroki Ito wasted further chances for Kawasaki and the Japanese side were made to pay as Yan Xiangchuang's superb long ball found Griffiths and the former Newcastle Jets man fired home a low first time effort.
Erivaldo was denied by Kawasaki goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima soon after, but the Brazilian doubled the lead two minutes after the break as Yan's pass sent the striker clear and he sidestepped the onrushing Kawashima before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Xu hit the crossbar three minutes later and despite a late spell of Kawasaki pressure which saw substitute Jumpei Kusukami hit the Beijing post with six minutes remaining, the home side easily picked up the points they needed to advance and end the visitors' campaign.
Even with a last 16 home tie against Japan's Gamba Osaka already assured, Seongnam posted a fifth victory of the campaign with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
Cheon Kwang-jin broke the deadlock for the home side at Tancheon Sports Stadium after 27 minutes only for Melbourne substitute Mate Dugandzic to equalise just after half-time.
Do regained the lead for Seongnam with 16 minutes remaining only for Tom Pondeljak to pull Melbourne back on level terms for a second time.
But with seven minutes remaining after setting up Cheon's opener, Do flicked on a long ball from goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong's for Cho Jae-chul to lob Melbourne custodian Mitchell Langerak.
With Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa already assured of qualification as Group E winners, Beijing secured second place to earn a daunting trip to face K-League champions and Group G winners Suwon Bluewings in the one-off last 16 in two weeks.
With three points a must for Kawasaki, the visitors started strongly as Hiroyuki Taniguchi fired wide and Beijing goalkeeper Yang Zhi denied Yusuke Mori inside the first 15 minutes.
Yusuke Igawa and Hiroki Ito wasted further chances for Kawasaki and the Japanese side were made to pay as Yan Xiangchuang's superb long ball found Griffiths and the former Newcastle Jets man fired home a low first time effort.
Erivaldo was denied by Kawasaki goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima soon after, but the Brazilian doubled the lead two minutes after the break as Yan's pass sent the striker clear and he sidestepped the onrushing Kawashima before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Xu hit the crossbar three minutes later and despite a late spell of Kawasaki pressure which saw substitute Jumpei Kusukami hit the Beijing post with six minutes remaining, the home side easily picked up the points they needed to advance and end the visitors' campaign.
Even with a last 16 home tie against Japan's Gamba Osaka already assured, Seongnam posted a fifth victory of the campaign with a 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
Cheon Kwang-jin broke the deadlock for the home side at Tancheon Sports Stadium after 27 minutes only for Melbourne substitute Mate Dugandzic to equalise just after half-time.
Do regained the lead for Seongnam with 16 minutes remaining only for Tom Pondeljak to pull Melbourne back on level terms for a second time.
But with seven minutes remaining after setting up Cheon's opener, Do flicked on a long ball from goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong's for Cho Jae-chul to lob Melbourne custodian Mitchell Langerak.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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