AFC Champions League: FC Tokyo Reach the Last 16

Doha, December 03 (QNA) - FC Tokyo reached Thursday the knockout stage after an Adailton goal earned them a repeat of their 1-0 win over Perth Glory in the match played in the Education City Stadium. While Perth Glory had already been eliminated, sitting bottom of the group with one point, FC Tokyo came into the Matchday Six fixture knowing they would have to match or better the result achieved by Shanghai Shenhua against Ulsan Hyundai in the simultaneous Group F match at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium if they were to advance to the next round FC Tokyo got off to a flying start and Adailton could have opened the scoring inside 60 seconds as he got on the end of a Takuya Uchida cross, opting for the spectacular but watching his bicycle kick sail high over the crossbar. The Brazilian made amends in style just seven minutes later, outpacing his marker down the left and going on a 30-yard run that culminated with a curled effort from inside the box into the far corner of veteran goalkeeper Liam Reddy to put FC Tokyo in front. The AFC website said that the win coupled with Shanghai Shenhua 4-1 defeat against Ulsan Hyundai at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, means the Japanese pipped their Chinese rivals to second place and joined Ulsan Hyundai in the Round of 16. FC Tokyo will face Group E winners Beijing FC in the Round of 16 while Ulsan Hyundai meet Australia’s Melbourne Victory. (QNA)