Jeonju: Former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors sealed their place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after the K-League Classic champions beat China’s Shandong Luneng 4-1 on Wednesday thanks to twin headers from Lee Jae-sung and Kim Hyung-il and late goals from Brazilian duo Eninho and Edu.
Needing just a point to be sure of progress from Group E, Lee Jae-sung put the Korea Republic champions ahead in the first half only for Wang Tong to equalise on the stroke of half-time for the visitors who had to win at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
But the home team were dominant in the second half and never looked back after Kim restored the lead before Eninho and Edu confirmed Jeonbuk's passage behind Group E winners Kashiwa Reysol.
Needing to win to deny Jeonbuk, Shandong started brightly and almost snatched the lead after just three minutes with a rapid counterattack as Hao Junmin's clever pass split the centre of the home defence for Yang Xu to latch onto but his shot was blocked by the swiftly advancing Kwon Sun-tae in the Jeonbuk goal.
But 2006 winners Jeonbuk burst into life after 14 minutes as Lee Dong-gook picked up the ball from deep and with the defence backing off unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area that was well caught by Shandong goalkeeper Wang Dalei.
And Jeonbuk took the lead just past the midway point of the first half as Han Kyo-won did the hard work down the right side after finding space to curl a perfect cross to the edge of the six yard area where Lee Jae-sung could not miss with his downward header.
The home team were in the ascendancy but 10 minutes before the break Shandong almost drew level as a deep cross from the left found Junior Urso unmarked at the far post, but with the Brazilian's header destined for the top corner, Kwon snatched the ball from just underneath the crossbar.
But Shandong equalised on the stroke of half-time as Wang’s run from deep was spotted and then picked out by Hao and the midfielder's shot from just outside the area looped over Kwon who was caught off his line.
The second half, though, was almost all Jeonbuk and five minutes after the restart Kim restored their lead as the defender glanced a header past the diving Wang from Eninho’s free-kick.
And with 10 minutes remaining, Eninho scored from the penalty spot after Dai Lin had pulled Edu down in the area.
And there was still time for Edu to break free of the Shandong defence to seal the win eight minutes later.
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