Kashima prevail in last fray to steal top spot from Kirins
Kashima Antlers defeated SCG Muang Thong United 2-1 to qualify for the AFC Champions League knockout stage as Group E winners last night.
A double from striker Yuma Suzuki secured all three points for Antlers, who finished on top with 12 points from six games.
Teerasil Dangda was on scoresheet for the Thai champions, who ended the group stage in second place with 11 points after suffering their first loss of the campaign yesterday.
The defeat meant the Kirins will face Group G winners Kawasaki Frontale in the last 16, while Kashima will take on tournament favourites Guangzhou Evergrande of China, who finished runners-up in Group G after a draw on Tuesday.
Muang Thong were without several main players, including suspended Tristan Do, Xisco Jimenez and Lee Ho, while defender Celio also missed the Japan trip after coming down with a fever.
The match was evenly poised when the Kirins’ Teerasil cancelled out an early Suzuki goal shortly before the halftime whistle.
However, Suzuki helped the hosts wrest back the upper hand when he found the net again 15 minutes into the second half.
Muang Thong upped the frequency of their attacks and came close on a few occasions but the leveller remained elusive.
The Kirins, who currently lead Thai League 1 standings, were assured of a place in the next stage regardless of the outcome of yesterday’s match.
Muang Thong will play the first leg at home on May 23 and the return leg at Kawasaki on May 30.
In the other Group E match yesterday, hosts Brisbane Roar of Australia lost 3-2 to South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai.
RESULTS
Group E
Brisbane Roar (AUS) 2 (Maclaren 18, 37) Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) 3 (Young og 9, Nam Hee-Cheol 54, Kim Yong-Jin 75)
Kashima Antlers (JPN) 2 (Suzuki 18, 60) Muang Thong United (THA) 1 (Dangda 45)
Group F
Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) 3 (Kusukami 3, Lustica 6, Sotirio 89) Shanghai SIPG (CHN) 2 (Wu Lei 1, Elkeson pen 23)
FC Seoul (KOR) 1 (Yoon Seung-Won 38) Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 0