BEIJING: Zhong Yihao netted the decisive spot-kick as Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande reached the Asian Champions League quarter-finals after a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out against Shandong Luneng on Tuesday.
Brazil international Paulinho scored twice as the second leg ended 4-4 on aggregate after extra time, but it was Zhong who struck the killer blow as Evergrande shaded their Chinese rivals 6-5 on penalties.
The 2013 and 2015 winners reached the last eight alongside reigning champions Kashima Antlers, who squeezed past fellow Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima courtesy of the away goals rule.
Evergrande were in the driving seat after their 2-1 home win in last week’s first leg, and Paulinho put them on cruise control when he struck in the 13th minute.
The ex-Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was on hand to stab home the rebound when Yang Liyu’s shot cannoned off the base of the post.
However, Shandong’s high-pedigree strike force was yet to have a say and former Premier League favourites Marouane Fellaini and Graziano Pelle led the charge as they fought their way back in the second half.
After Pelle had a header tipped over, substitute Zhou Haibin got the breakthrough from the resulting corner when he nodded home at the back post in the 62nd minute.
Eight minutes later, Fellaini showed his quality when he controlled the ball on his chest and shot on the turn, firing Shandong into a 2-1 lead.
At 3-3 on aggregate and an equal number of away goals, it forced extra time and it was Shandong who struck again when Liu Junshuai scrambled the ball in after a goalmouth melee. – AFP
