Paulinho takes Guangzhou into last eight of Asian Champions League

By Michael Church

HONG KONG, May 30, (Reuters) - Brazil midfielder Paulinho booked Guangzhou Evergrande's location in the region-final of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday with an away purpose at some point of their second leg defeat by way of Japan's Kashima Antlers.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's side lost 2-1 after Kashima scored within the death seconds to win in front in their personal fanatics. But Guangzhou continue to a fifth region-very last look in six seasons as the tie finished 2-2 on mixture, with the Chinese Super League side advancing on the away goals rule.

Paulinho scored from near variety inside the fifty fifth minute to cancel out Pedro Junior's impressive first-half of opener for Kashima, which saw the Brazilian striker run from the midway line and hearth the ball into the top nook.

Mu Kanazaki's damage time aim exceeded Kashima a consolation win, but it changed into now not sufficient to take the Japanese champions into the ultimate eight for the primary time considering the fact that 2008.

"The sport was just like the first leg, both sides have been very sturdy and earlier than the game we had foreseen their strategies," stated Scolari, who received the Asian title with Guangzhou in 2015.

"Even even though we've got reached our goal, we haven't given an ideal overall performance."

There was better news for Japan's different representative in the opposition as Kawasaki Frontale showed their place within the draw for the quarter-finals, with a purpose to be held in Kuala Lumpur on June 6, with a 7-2 combination win over Thailand's Muangthong United.

Toru Oniki's facet won the first leg three-1 in Thailand closing week and goals from Yu Kobayashi, Tatsuya Hasegawa, Eduardo Neto and Rhayner ensured Kawasaki joined Guangzhou, Al Ain and Al Ahli from Saudi Arabia within the subsequent round of the competition. (Editing by means of Richard Lough)

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