Fates decided in AFC Champions League

Adelaide United earned crucial home advantage for the knockout round of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday despite losing their final group match to China’s Shandong Luneng 1-0.

The Reds clung on to a home tie for their round of 16 match next month when South Korea’s Pohang Steelers, the defending champions, went down 4-3 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan at the same time.

Adelaide, who reached the 2008 final, dominated but fell to a spectacular goal from Li Wei.

Shandong launched a blistering counter-attack from inside their own half and Li turned defender Robert Cornthwaite in the box and unleashed a fierce left-foot volley in the 53rd minute.

It means Adelaide will now play the runner-up of Group F — either reigning J-League champions Kashima Antlers or K-League champions Jeonbuk Motors, who meet Wednesday.

Pohang, as runner-up, will face the group winner after they lost to Sanfrecce, with 19-year-old rookie Junya Osaki giving the Japanese team a flying start with a strike in the first minute.

Pohang drew level soon after through a Kim Jae-Sung header before Lee Tadanari put the home side 2-1 up in the 29th minute and Shinichiro Kuwada made it 3-1 just before the break.

Pohang took the initiative in the second half and Kim Jae-Sung pulled one back before Shin Hyung-Min hit a sizzling equalizer to set up an exciting finale.

Sanfrecce, who had no chance of qualifying, kept pushing and Tomoaki Makino bagged the decider with nine minutes left.

So far, 10 teams have booked their place in the knockout rounds more will be decided later Tuesday.

Five-time Saudi champions Al Shabab host eight-time Uzbek champions Pakhtakor for a place in the knockout stage.

Pakhtakor lead Group C with nine points, two ahead of Al Shabab, while Iran Pro League leaders Sepahan are second with eight points.

The trio are battling for two places in the round of 16, which will be held on May 11 and 12 and feature home ties for the winners of the eight groups.

Al Shabab must win to qualify as a draw would at best bring the ?White Lions? level with Sepahan, who have a better head-to-head record.

Brazilian coach Edgar Perreira takes charge of Al Shabab after succeeding Jaime Pacheco of Portugal, who was sacked following their recent 1-0 loss to Sepahan.

UAE’s Al Ain host Sepahan, with a win ensuring they stay in the competition.

Meanwhile Al Sadd, who lie second in Group D with seven points, are looking to become the second Qatari club, after Al Hilal, through when they host Dubai’s Al Ahli.

A home win will guarantee Al Sadd second place ahead of Iran’s Mes Kerman, who host Saudi champions Al Hilal.

Korea’s Suwon Bluewings are already through and ended their group campaign with a convincing 6-2 win over Singapore Armed Forces, with five of their goals coming in the first half.

Jose Roberto Mota and Yeom Ki-Hun scored braces with Lee Hyun-Jin and Kwak Hee-Joo also getting on the scoresheet.