Thai League 1 side Buriram United failed to reach the group phase of the AFC Champions League after losing 3-0 at Shanghai SIPG yesterday.
Shanghai SIPG's Hulk, left, in action against Buriram's Narubadin Weerawatnodom.
Late goals from Li Shenglong, Marko Arnautovic and Hulk in the third and final play-off round sent the Chinese side to the group stage of the continental club championship.
Li broke Buriram's resistance 15 minutes from time in a one-sided match in which the Thais defended doggedly before Arnautovic added a second in injury time and Hulk struck from the penalty spot.
Vitor Pereira's side will now feature in Group H of the ACL where they will meet Australia's Sydney FC, J.League champions Yokohama F Marinos and two-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from South Korea.
SIPG deservedly advanced even if last year's quarter-finalists initially struggled to turn their superiority into goals against the Thai Premier League side.
Earlier, Thai club Port were eliminated in the second play-off round, leaving Thai League 1 champions Chiang Rai United to be the only side from the Kingdom in the ACL group stage this year.
At Ibaraki, Melbourne Victory ensured their place in the group stage as a memorable 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers saw them progress from an enthralling play-off encounter.
Andrew Nabbout's second-half goal and a stellar performance from goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas proved the difference as Melbourne joined China's Beijing FC, Chiangrai United and South Korean heavyweights FC Seoul in Group E of Asia's premier club competition.
The result signalled a premature end to Kashima's latest continental adventure, with the 2018 champions left to rue what could have been at a rain-sodden Kashima Soccer Stadium. bangkok post/the-afc.com