Tianjin Quanjian coach Paulo Sousa was left lamenting the absence of Axel Witsel and Anthony Modeste as his side suffered a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarterfinal against Japan's Kashima Antlers on Tuesday.

Goals form Brazilian duo Leo Silva and Serginho secured Kashima a significant advantage in front of their own fans.

Witsel left Tianjin this month to join Borussia Dortmund while Modeste is reported to be engaged in a contract dispute and was not selected...

Tianjin Quanjian, China's last remaining representative in the Asian Champions League, will take on Japan's Kashima Antlers when the quarterfinals resume in August.

Tianjin, who saw off two-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande on away goals in the round of 16, will travel to Japan to take on the eight-time J.League champions in late August before hosting the return leg three weeks later.

They reached the quarterfinals after coming through the playoffs with a win over Ceres Negros from the Philippines...

Japan's Kashima Antlers booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday evening, securing a 4-3 aggregate win over Shanghai SIPG despite losing 2-1 in their meeting in China on Wednesday evening.

With the win, Kashima qualified for the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2008 and won a tie in the knockout rounds for the first time since the Asian Champions League was created in 2002.

SIPG crashed out despite a brace from Brazilian Hulk, who returned...

Guangzhou Evergrande crashed out of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday evening as Fabio Cannavaro's side were eliminated by Tianjin Quanjian on the away goals rule following a 2-2 draw that takes the Chinese Super League side into the quarterfinals of the continental championship.

Ricardo Goulart scored twice for Guangzhou in front of their own fans at Tianhe Stadium but goals from Alexandre Pato and Wang Jie secured Tianjin's passage to the last eight for the first time in the club's history.

"Thanks...