Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds ended Thai League 1 side BG Pathum United's dream of reaching the AFC Champions League semi-finals with a 4-0 win yesterday.
The J-League side were 2-0 in front at half-time in the quarter-final match thanks to goals from David Moberg Karlsson after 32 minutes and Takuya Iwanami in the 42nd minute.
In a one-sided match, Yoshio Koizumi (65) and Takahiro Akimoto (72) added two more goals to finish off the Rabbits in Saitama, near Tokyo.
The Reds, who hammered Malaysia's Johor 5-0 in the previous round, will meet South Korea's Joenbuk Hyundai Motors in the ACL semi-finals, or the East zone final.
The South Koreans beat Japan's Vissel Kobe 3-1 after extra time earlier yesterday, also in Saitama.
Brazilian substitute Gustavo headed home in the 104th minute to put the K-League side ahead and Moon Seon-Min put gloss on the scoreline in the final minutes.
J-League strugglers Kobe were the better side against Jeonbuk, continental champions in 2006 and 2016, in the first half.
Kobe took the lead in the 64th minute when substitute midfielder Koya Yuruki turned the ball in from close range when Jeonbuk goalkeeper Lee Bum-Soo fumbled.
Kobe's lead lasted just two minutes. Jeonbuk's Gambian forward Mo Barrow raced up the other end and slotted the ball between the legs of advancing goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa.
In extra time, Leeds and Swansea man Barrow provided the cross in the 104th minute for striker Gustavo to climb highest at the back post and ram in to make it 2-1, before Moon made sure of the win in the 122nd minute.
Nualphan quits U23 side
Nualphan Lamsam has quit as manager of the Thai U23 side, she said yesterday.
However, she said she will remain as manager of the senior national side.
Nualphan said Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Somyot Poompunmuang approved her resignation following a talk.
Nualphan added that she had a lot of jobs and this was affecting her health.
She is chairwoman of Thai League 1 side Port and CEO of Muang Thai Insurance Plc, among other positions. "I have had problems with my health since I contacted Covid-19," she said.