A remarkable night in the AFC Champions League so both Guangzhou Evergrande and Kashima Antlers lose 3-2 away against domestic opponents, but progress regardless courtesy of their advantages from the first leg.
Despite a strong performance from Shangdong, Guangzhou managed to emerge from the first leg with a 2-1 victory, courtesy of a deflected goal. The six-time Chinese champions may consider themselves lucky again, as they were forced to win from the penalty spot at the Jinan Olympic Stadium to progress to the quarterfinals.
Former Barcelona midfielder Paulinho opened the scoring, arriving into the box getting on the end of a shot which deflected off the post to strike the rebound home.
Their lead lasted until after the hour mark before substitute Zhou Haibin headed in an equalizer from the back post after a well-worked corner routine. The side would soon have their second when Marouane Fellaini muscled off the Guangzhou defense, took a long-ball into the area under his control on the turn, and struck a low shot which rolled into the bottom corner of the net to send the game into extra time.
Both sides would score in the additional half-hour, with Liu Junshuai giving Shangdong the lead before Paulinho scored his second of the match to level the score and ensure it would be decided from the spot.
It would take until the sixth penalty for either side to falter, but Guangzhou keeper Liu Dianzuo was finally able to deny a strike, giving his side the chance to win. Yihao Zhong made no mistake from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way ensuring his side progressed to the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Kashima Antlers faced a similar situation with their away trip to face Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Despite being dominated for much of the game, Kashima took the lead when Shoma Doi’s low strike from the edge of the box managed to beat the goalkeeper in the 33rd minute. The hosts would now need to score three goals without reply to progress.
Sanfrecce took another half-hour to find the net after the setback, but Patric’s header finally beat Kwoun Sun-tae in the Kashima goal, albeit with a little help from a deflection off defender Tomoya Inukai. Six minutes later, another deflected effort found it’s way into the net to bring the hosts within touching distance of the next round.
However, their hard work was undone when Doi hit his second goal of the match, scoring a freak long-range effort after substitute goalkeeper Takuto Hayashi was caught out after going up for a set piece. Patric’s stoppage time penalty did little to change the final outcome, and Kashima Antlers booked their place in the quarter finals.