Chinese champions Beijing Guoan progressed into the second round thanks to 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale. With Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa already winning the group, Fontale had set up a winner-takes-all clash against Guoan.

Beijing Guoan 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale

Frontale needed a win to make it into the 2nd round of the ACL for the 3rd successive year. Goals either side of halt-time from Joel Griffiths and Valdo ensured the Japanese would make an early exit.

Griffith’s goal was created following a defensive error by Yusuke Tasaka. The Australian showed a cool head inside the box before firing his shot across Eiji Kawashima in the Frontale goal to set the hosts on their way. Valdo made it 2 – 0 and sent Guoan into the knockout stage. Valdo met Yan Xiangchuang’s through ball, rounded Eiji and tapped the ball into the empty net. Guoan will face Group G winners Suwon Bluewings in the knockout stage.

Seongnam Ilhwa 3–2 Melbourne Victory

An goal in the final 10 minutes sealed it for Seongnam against Melbourne Victory to set up a second round clash with Gamba Osaka.

Cheon Kwang-jin scored the opening goal in the 27th minute when he side-footed Namkung Do’s centre beyond Mitchell Langerak in the Victory goal. Victory equalised when Dugandzic met a Carlos Hernandez’s pass to fire home the equaliser. With 20 minutes remaining Seongnam’s standout performer Namkung Do put them back into the lead. Victory responded immediately with Tom Pondeljak grabbing a Victory equaliser five minutes later. Cho sealed victory for Seongnam with just over five minutes remaining, racing clear before chipping the ball over Langerak.

“We could see why Seongnam have won the group,” said Victory coach Ernie Merrick. “They moved the ball around very quickly in the middle and make lots of goal-scoring opportunities.”