Kashima, Suwon, Jeonbuk reach last 16
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Duvier Riascos (left) of Shanghai Shenhua competes for a header against Kashima Antlers' Daiki Iwamasa during their AFC Champions League match in Tokyo yesterday. Shinzo Koroki scored twice for the hosts to end Shenhua's hopes of advancing. |
Japan's Kashima Antlers joined South Korean clubs Suwon Bluewings and Jeonbuk Hyundai in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League by winning in yesterday's next-to-last round of the group stage.
In Group H, Shinzo Koroki scored twice to give Kashima a 2-0 win over Shanghai Shenhua, eliminating the Chinese team. In the other game in the group, 2001 and 2002 champion Suwon defeated Sydney 3-1 to knock the Australian side out.
Suwon and Kashima both have nine points and an identical head-to-head record, but Suwon has a better goal difference going into the last round, when the Antlers host Sydney and the Bluewings travel to Shanghai.
Top spot will be critical, as it will bring home advantage in the next round.
In Group G, Jeonbuk won 2-1 at China's Shandong Luneng to advance. South Korea striker Lee Dong-gook scored first in the 31st minute and hit the winner in the 52nd after Zhou Haibin had equalized for Shandong in the 40th.
Group rival Cerezo Osaka moved past Shandong into second place by winning 4-0 at Indonesia's Arema. Shandong must win at Cerezo in the last round to claim second ahead of the Japanese club.
Kashima overcame the absence of several injured players to win a game played during the day at Tokyo's National Stadium to preserve energy in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
Koroki headed the Antlers ahead in the 32nd, and the striker doubled the advantage when he pounced on a rebound in the 81st.
Ha Tae-gyun and Croatian center back Mato Neretljak gave Suwon a 2-0 cushion before Bruno Cazarine cut the deficit for Sydney. Suwon substitute Yeom Gi-hoon then sealed the three points.
