Yokohama F. Marinos and Buriram United secured their places in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday with victories over Shanghai Port and Johor Darul Ta’zim, respectively. Both teams will now participate in the final phase of the competition, to be held in Jeddah from April 25th to May 3rd.
Yokohama F. Marinos 4-1 Shanghai Port (5-1 on aggregate)
Anderson Lopes scored twice as Yokohama F. Marinos thrashed Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port 4-1 in the second leg of their last-16 tie, progressing with a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate victory.
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Marinos extended their overall advantage within two minutes. Daiya Tono crashed a left-foot shot past Shanghai Port goalkeeper Yan Junling. Lopes then doubled the lead in the 29th minute with a delicate chipped finish.
Shanghai Port briefly threatened a comeback when Leonardo scored from close range in the 35th minute, after defender Li Ang glanced Mateus Vital’s corner towards goal. However, Yan Matheus restored Marinos’ two-goal cushion just before halftime, bending a left-foot shot into the bottom corner.
Lopes completed the scoring in the 56th minute, converting from close range after Kodjo Aziangbe’s long-range shot hit the post. Lopes’ brace takes him to the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with nine goals.
“Very happy with the performance, very happy with the result and very happy that the players get the chance to play in an exciting knockout competition in Saudi at the end of April,” said Marinos coach Steve Holland. “Very happy for them because they deserve it.”
Buriram United 1-0 Johor Darul Ta’zim (1-0 on aggregate)
Buriram United qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2013, defeating Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta’zim 1-0 thanks to a second-half strike from Suphanat Mueanta. The teams had played out a goalless draw in the first leg in Thailand.
After a tightly contested first half, Suphanat scored the decisive goal in the 58th minute, curling a left-foot shot into the top corner beyond Andoni Zubiaurre. The victory sees Buriram United, champions of Thai League 1, continue their impressive run in the continental competition.
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