(MENAFN- Arab Times) Yusuke Kobayashi netted a crucial second-half goal as Japan's Kashiwa Reysol staved off a comeback bid by Suwon Samsung FC Tuesday to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League for the second time in three years.
Kashiwa held a 3-2 lead from the first leg in South Korea. But goals by Chong Te-Se and Koo Ja-Ryong put Suwon ahead on aggregate in the Round of 16 tie before Kobayashi struck in the 65th minute to level things up at 4-4 and send Kashiwa through on away goals.
There was better fortune for another Korean side as a 72nd minute goal by Brazilian striker Edu saw Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beat Beijing Guoan 1-0 in China to advance 2-1 on aggregate.
Suwon pulled a goal back at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium after 26 minutes through North Korea international forward Chong, who received a long pass from Lee Sang-Ho with his back to goal and swivelled to fire home an unstoppable effort.
The Korean side turned up the pressure after the interval with Kwon Chang-Hoon and Seo Jung-Jin forcing fine saves out of Takanori Sugeno. But the Kashiwa goalkeeper was left helpless in the 54th minute when Koo fired home from close range after a goalmouth scramble to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate for the visitors.
The home side were stung into action and they got the crucial goal 11 minutes later after a fine pass by Cristiano set up his Brazilian compatriot Leandro, who rounded goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong but saw his shot blocked by a defender.
The ball fell kindly to Kobayashi, who fired into the roof of the net to put his team into the last eight.
At the Beijing Workers Stadium, the home side led on away goals against Jeonbuk after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Korea.
However, the K League Classic champions dominated play and took a deserved lead with 18 minutes left when Lee Jae-Sung's first-time pass sent Edu clear. The Brazilian made no mistake as he slotted past goalkeeper Yang Zhi.
That set up a frantic finish as Yang kept his side in the match with fine saves to deny Edu and Leonardo, while Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwon Sun-Tae denied Ha Dae-sung with an excellent reflex stop.
Beijing were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time after Zhou Ting was sent off for retaliation but they went close to forcing extra-time when Pablo Batalla's low drive was brilliantly turned aside by Kwon right at the death.
Pahang's AFC Cup round of 16 clash against Persipura Jayapura was cancelled by the Asian Football Confederation late on Monday after four foreign players from the Malaysian side were denied entry into Indonesia.
Pahang blamed the crisis-hit Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) for the problems after Nigerian Dickson Nwakaema, Jamaican Damian Stewart, Pakistani Zesh Rahman and Argentine Matias Conti were denied entry.
The club then opted to return home to Malaysia on Sunday.
"The AFC is in the process of gathering information from all relevant parties," the regional body said in a short statement.
"Once the investigation is concluded, a report will be submitted to the appropriate AFC Committees for a final decision."
Pahang FA honorary-secretary Fuzeimi Ibrahim told the New Straits Times on Monday that the required paperwork had been lodged with the Indonesians last week and had received assurances there would be no issue.
Pahang boss Fahrizal Hassan said his club should advance to the quarter-finals.
"The rule book says that we should be given a walkover, but we'll have to wait for AFC to decide on the matter," he said.
"It's ludicrous to be in this situation in this modern era. We did everything we could to play against Persipura but were let down by PSSI's incompetence."
The PSSI, who have been suspended by the local government, face a Friday deadline from FIFA to resolve a row with the ministry over a row that has brought a halt to the top flight league in the country.
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