Shandong Luneng fail to make knockout stage of AFC Champions League
But two other Chinese Super League sides, Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan, have qualified for the next phase
Shandong Luneng have missed out on becoming a record third Chinese Super League side to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League.
The Cuca-coached side slumped to a 4-1 defeat on Wednesday night in group E against former champions Jeonbuk Motors.
Shandong needed to win to join Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan in the next phase, but slipped behind to a goal from Lee Jae-sung in the 25th minute. Wang Tong equalised for Shandong on half-time, but they crashed with a poor second-half performance.
Kim Hyung-il put Jeonbuk back in front six minutes after the restart before a penalty from Eninho and a breakaway goal from Edu in the final 10 minutes condemned Shandong to third place in their group.
Guangzhou Evergrande will play former champions Seongnam FC away the following day.
Guangzhou R&F, already out of contention, were thrashed 5-0 on Wednesday by Thailand’s Buriram United.
Victory was not enough to ensure Buriram advanced to the last 16, however, as they missed out on head-to-head records to group F winners Gamba Osaka and second-placed Seongnam.
Gamba beat Seongnam 2-1 on Wednesday in Osaka to take bragging rights in the group.
