Shanghai Shenhua become the first team to reach the AFC Champions League quarter-finals as the they defeated Dong Tam Long An 4-2 finish top of Group G.

Chinese and Korean sides gatecrashed the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday but Japan's campaign collapsed with Gamba Osaka and Tokyo Verdy sent packing.

Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese Super League runners up, became the first club to join defending champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the final eight with a last-gasp 4-2 victory away to Vietnam's Dong Tam in Group G.

The topsy-turvy encounter looked to be heading for a 2-2 draw when Li Chengming struck twice at the death to send the Chinese outfit into the knockout stages for the first time.

They were joined in the business end of the tournament by South Korean side Ulsan, who overcame Tokyo Verdy 1-0 in Group F thanks to a blistering free-kick on the stroke of half-time by Korean international Lee Chun-soo.

The K-League champions only needed to avoid defeat on their home ground but made life difficult for themselves when You Kyoung-youl was sent off midway through the second period for a two-footed lunge on Masaki Saito.

But they hung on to continue their impressive debut in Asia's top club competition and contribute to a miserable night for Japanese football.

J-League champions Gamba Osaka were also sent packing, managing only a 1-1 draw at home to Chonbuk Motors of South Korea that made it impossible for them to progress.

The draw means Chonbuk must now beat Dalian Shide of China in the final Group E match at home on May 17 if they are to join Ulsan in the quarter-finals.

Chonbuk trail the Chinese Super League champions by two points after Dalian earned a far-from-convincing 1-0 victory over Vietnam's Da Nang with a fourth-minute goal from Liu Cheng.

Groups F and G were decimated when teams from Thailand and Indonesia were disqualified for failing to complete their paperwork on time, leaving only two sides to fight it out over two matches.

Only the top team from each of the seven groups progresses to the quarter-finals.

Qatar's Al Sadd, who already have a domestic league and cup double in the bag, blew a great chance to qualify, going down 3-2 at home to Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab.

Both sides now have 10 points, pushing Group D to the wire.

Elsewhere, Al Qadisiya continued their recent fine form with a brace from Bader Al Mutwa handing them a 2-0 victory over Foolad.

With Pakhtakor going down 2-1 in a shock defeat to Syrian minnows Al Ittihad, Group A also goes to the bitter end with Al Qadisiya taking on the Uzbek giants next week for a place in the quarters.

Meanwhile in Group B, Mash'al of Uzbekistan drew 2-2 with Iraqi outfit Al Mina'a and Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal beat Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates 2-1 courtesy of a late penalty conversion by Mohammed Al Shlhoub.

In Group C, Saba Battery beat Al Gharafa 4-1, while Al Wahda came out on top of their clash with Al Karema 4-2.

The eventual winners will be rewarded with a top prize of 600,000 US dollars and a crack at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December.

(CRI.com May 4, 2006)