Former winners Al Hilal, Al Ain, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors joined Melbourne Victory, FC Tokyo, Lokomotiv and Al Nasr in claiming the remaining places in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League this.
Shanghai SIPG, Sydney FC, Tractorsazi Tabriz, Zobahan, Lekhwiya, Shandong Luneng, FC Seoul, El Jaish and Urawa Red Diamonds had already qualified for the Round of 16, which will take place later this month, ahead of the final round of group ties.
Australia’s Melbourne are among five sides who advanced from the group stage for the first time, but did so by the slimmest of margins as a 2-1 victory against Japan’s Gamba Osaka in Group G meant the A-League side edged out Korea Republic’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings despite the K-League side recording a 3-0 win at home to Shanghai this week.
“It is a big achievement considering we’ve had five attempts. On our fifth one we were successful and that joy right now is overriding trying to analyse the performance or anything like that,” said Melbourne coach Kevin Muscat.
“It’s great for the football club and we’ve managed to create some history for a couple of times this year in fact.”
“All be it I’m so elated for the group, the difficulties of not having a game or many games – it’s not a complaint or an excuse, it’s tough going – but what that has given me is an unbelievable thirst and hunger to go and win the next tie.”
Muscat and Melbourne will next face another Korean test in the Round of 16 in the shape of K-League champions Jeonbuk after the 2006 winners drew 2-2 at home to China’s Jiangsu FC to win Group E with FC Japan’s Tokyo taking second place after a 2-1 win over Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong.
Hiroshi Jofuku’s FC Tokyo will now face China’s Shanghai who had already won Group G before Wednesday’s defeat to Suwon.
Fellow Chinese Super League side Shandong, meanwhile, will take on Australia’s Sydney FC for a place in the quarter-finals after the A-League side topped Group H despite a 1-0 defeat to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday.
Urawa were Sydney’s Matchday Six challengers for first place, but with the 2007 winners drawing 1-1 with Korea’s Pohang Steelers, the J.League side finished in second place and will meet Group F winners FC Seoul in a fortnight’s time.
In the West, Al Hilal were indebted to Ailton’s 71st minute strike to secure a 2-1 win over Group C winners Tractorsazi of Iran which means the Saudi Arabian side edged out Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor to secure second place and a Round of 16 tie with Lokomotiv despite the side from Uzbekistan beating Al Jazira.
“We deserved to win tonight despite all the circumstances that we had in the previous period including the three consecutive defeats we suffered either in the local league or in the AFC Champions League,” said Al Hilal coach Giorgos Donis.
“The introduction of Ailton was at the right time. He proved that he’s an important player as he scored the winner.”
Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv topped Group A as their goalless draw with Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates ensured both teams advanced at the expense of two-time champions Al Ittihad from Saudi Arabia, who exited the competition despite recording a 3-0 win over Iran’s Sepahan.
Tractorsazi, meanwhile, will mark their first appearance in the Round of 16 with a tie against fellow knockout stage debutants Al Nasr.
Finally, inaugural winners Al Ain secured their place in the last 16 as 2-0 win over Nasaf of Uzbekistan secured second place in Group D despite Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli beating table topping El Jaish from Qatar.
El Jaish will face Group B runners-up and fellow Qatar Stars League side Lekhwiya in the last 16, while Al Ain will take on Group B winners and 2010 runners-up Zobahan of Iran.
Zobahan completed their unbeaten campaign with a 3-0 away win over Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, while Lekhwiya shared a goalless draw at home to Uzbekistan’s Bunyodkor.