Jeonbuk Motors through to last 16

Saudi Al-Hilal’s players celebrate after scoring a goal against Piroozi Athletic [AFP]

Two stoppage-time goals by Lee Dong-gook gave Jeonbuk Motors a 3-1 win at China’s Guangzhou Evergrande, giving the South Korean team a place in the last 16 of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.

Jeonbuk, runners-up last season, moved to the top of Group H with the dramatic victory while Guangzhou’s chances of progressing will go down to the final matchday when they are away to Thailand’s Buriram United.

Buriram lost 1-0 at Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol but can still progress to the last round if results go their way on the final day.

After five games, Jeonbuk – who host Kashiwa in their final game – have nine points, Kashiwa and Guangzhou have seven each and Buriram six.

In Group D, Moroccan striker Youssef El Arabi’s 59th-minute goal gave Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia a 1-0 win over Piroozi that took them above their opponent at the top of Group D and within a point of a fifth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage.

“Nothing is finished now because Piroozi still have the chance to lead the group again, so we have to wait for the final match day and see what happens at the end” Al Hilal coach Hasek

El Arabi finished off a counterattack by slotting the ball past goalkeeper Asmir Avdukic.

“We could have scored more goals,” Al Hilal coach Hasek said.

“Nothing is finished now because Piroozi still have the chance to lead the group again, so we have to wait for the final match day and see what happens at the end.”

Al Hilal could have advanced if Qatar’s Al Gharafa lost or drew against Al Shabab of the United Arab Emirates in the other group match.

Instead, Al Gharafa came from a goal down to beat Al Shabab 2-1 and move within two points of Piroozi with one round remaining in the group stage.

Al Shabab led when Essa Mohammed scored in the 65th minute. But Aruna Dindane leveled for Al Gharafa in the 81st and teammate Othman al-Assas scored the winner three minutes later.

Meanwhile in Group G, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma were held to 1-1 at home by Japan’s Nagoya Grampus, leaving both teams on seven points.

They are a point ahead of Australia’s Central Coast Mariners, who had a 5-1 win over Tianjin Teda, eliminating the Chinese club from contention for the next round.

On the final match day, Central Coast are away to Nagoya while Tianjin hosts Seongnam.

In Group C, Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia and Sepahan of Iran advanced with easy wins. Al Ahli, the Saudi runner-up, brushed aside Lekhwiya of Qatar 3-0 while Iranian leader Sepahan downed 10-man Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates 3-0.

Abdulrahim Jezawi put Al Ahli ahead in the eighth minute and Victor Simoes doubled their lead in the 61st. Taisir al- Jassem put the match out of reach with a stoppage-time goal.

In Dubai, Bruno Cesar Correa put the Iranian side 1-0 up just before halftime. Things got worse in the second half for Al Nasr when goalkeeper Abdulla Moosa was sent off.

Each team then missed a penalty before Sepahan took advantage of the extra man in the remaining minutes with Xhevahir Sukaj scoring in the 69th and Mehdi Seyed-Salehi in the 77th.