Paulo Sousa is hoping his Tianjin Quanjian players can carry their AFC Champions League form into the Chinese Super League after a 3-2 win over Japan's Kashiwa Reysol confirmed their place in the round of 16.

Tianjin face Guangzhou Evergrande in an all-Chinese clash next month after finishing second in Group E behind two-time champions Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea, who beat Hong Kong's Kitchee 3-0 to seal top spot and set up a meeting with Thailand's Buriram United.

"This is our debut season in...

Sydney FC players have denounced the standard of Allianz Stadium's pitch and expressed relief it will be re-turfed in time for their A-League semifinal.

Commensurate with heavy cross-code traffic this time of year, the Sky Blues played their final AFC Champions League group game -- a goalless draw with Shanghai Shenhua -- on a bumpy surface.

Polish star Adrian Mierzejewski led the criticism, bemoaning the way it broke up his side's attacking style.

"I believe everyone sees what kind of pitch [there]...

Alan Carvalho struck twice in the second half as Guangzhou Evergrande eventually saw off an understrength Cerezo Osaka to advance to the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League with a 3-1 win.

Huang Bowen gave Evergrande the lead after just six minutes, but Cerezo, without many of their key performers, levelled just four minutes later when Takaki Fukumitsu beat the Guangzhou offside trap to score.

But goals in the 57th and 86th minutes from Carvalho saw Evergrande finally brush aside Yoon...