Shandong Luneng midfielder Hao Junmin celebrates scoring a goal against Sydney FC in their AFC Champions League duel. (Photo : Getty Images)
Perennial Chinese Super League contenders Shandong Luneng Taishan FC advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 AFC Champions League after they pulled off a 2-2 draw with A-League squad Sydney FC in the second leg of their round-of-16 head-to-head series held at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday.
A stunning 90th minute goal from Chinese attacking midfielder Hao Junmin against a 10-man Australian squad plummeted Shandong to the last-eight in this year's edition of Asia's premier club continental competitions, ESPN reported.
The 29-year-old winger came off head coach Mano Menezes' bench at the 79th minute to replace midfielder Li Wei and 11 minutes later, as Sydney is only minutes away from getting in the quarters, he managed to pull off a 25-yard strike that gave Taishan Dui a 3-3 aggregate win over their Asian rivals.
Australian defensive midfielder Brandon O'Neill scored the opening goal of the match with a short range shot right at the second minute off a free kick.
Shandong was able to equalize ten minutes later with a goal from Argentine import Walter Montillo off a brilliant cross by Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli to take a 1-1 count at the half.
The hosts were quick to score again after the restart with midfielder Rhyan Grant netting his team's second goal with a minute gone in the second half from an assist by Serbian midfielder Milos Ninkovic.
As the game neared its end and Sydney up 2-1 at the Allianz Stadium, it looked like the Sky Blues are braced for a quarterfinal appearance this season, until defender Zac Anderson was sent off at the 76th after fouling Chinese forward Yang Xu.
With a one-man disadvantage, Shandong put the pressure on until they found the winning goal at the last minute courtesy of Junmin, as per Fox Sports.
Shandong joins fellow CSL squad Shanghai SIPG and K League Classic clubs FC Seoul and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the East Zone bracket in the quarters. Meanwhile, the West Zone quarterfinalists are Qatar's El Jaish SC, Uzbekistan's Lokomotiv Tashkent FK, and Al-Ain FC and Al-Nasr Dubai SC from the United Arab Emirates.
The final eight competitions begin on August 23 and 24 for the first leg matches.
