Former Newcastle Jets player Mark Milligan scored the opening goal for Shanghai Shenhua, but his side could only manage a 1-1 draw against Kashima Antlers, as the Japanese side secured a first-placed finish in Group G in the Asian Champions League.
Miligan put Shenhua ahead with a superb volley after just eight minutes before Maecos Gomes equalised 22 minutes later when he headed Stsuto Uchida’s cross home.
The result means Kashima finish its group campaign a point clear of Suwon Bluewings, who got the better of Singapore Armed Forces 3-1 to also secure a place in the last 16.
Bae Ki-jong gave Suwon the lead before Aleksander Duric equalised for the Singaporeans, only for Lee Sang-ho to quickly restore his side’s lead late in the half.
Seo Dong-hyun then sealed the win late in the game when he struck from the penalty spot following a foul which saw SAF goalkeeper Shahril Jantan sent off.
Pohang Steelers sealed a 2-0 win over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale to finish top of Group H and earn home advantage in the second phase of the competition.
Goals from No Byung-jun and Brazilian forward Denilson gave the former Asian champions all three points, sending the Korean side to the summit of the group for the first time.
Kawasaki’s loss sets up an all-Japanese blockbuster against defending champions Gamba Osaka in the next round.
Naif Hazazi scored a hat-trick as Al Ittihad secured top spot in Group C with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Umm Salal at the Prince Abdullah Stadium.
The Saudi side needed only a draw to claim first place in the group but dominated their opponents throughout as Hazizi’s treble, a brace by Renato and a goal each by Saleh Al Saqri and substitute Talal Al Meshal secured the win.
The victory means Al Ittihad have a home match in the last 16 against the runners-up of Group B while Umm Salal will visit the winners of Group A.
Esteghlal scored twice in the final 11 minutes as the Iranian side recovered from a two-goal deficit to earn a point against Al Jazira in the other Group C match at the Mohamed Bin Zayid Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Both sides were playing for pride after being eliminated from contention for the last 16 but Al Jazira appeared to be on course for a morale-boosting win thanks to second-half strikes by Ali Ahmed and Redha Al Jaberi.
But Esteghlal battled back and got back on level terms through goals by Ali Alizadeh and Hadi Shakouri in the closing stages.
Finally, in Group D, Bunyodkor secured the point it needed to progress to the second round as it drew 0-0 with Al Shabab of the United Arab Emirates.
In the other match, Sepahan eased to a comfortable 3-0 win over group winners Ettifaq at Foolad Shahr stadium.
Hossein Papi gave the Iranians the lead in the second minute before Hadi Asghari made it 2-0 after 52 minutes and Hamid Azizzadeh rounded off the scoring with nine minutes left on the clock.
