Brazilian striker Goulart Pereira currently plays in the Chinese Super League. (Photo : Reuters)
Guangzhou Evergrande secured its fourth consecutive time to move into the AFC Champions League quarterfinals, thanks to Brazilian striker Goulart Pereira’s brace who helped erase the team’s 1-2 deficit on the first leg and win over South Korea’s Seongnam FC 3-2 on Wednesday.
A draw would secure a spot in the last 8 for the South Korean team after it emerged victorious over Guangzhou a week ago through a last gasp winner from the penalty spot.
Zhang Linpeng, Guangzhou's defender, was replaced by Rong Hao after encountering an injury just five minutes into the match.
Brazilian striker Goulart broke the deadlock after he converted a penalty kick as Kwak Hae-seong blocked a long-range shot from Huang Bowen.
Kim Do-heon, the captain of South Korea's Seongnam, made a shot in the 39th minute, pushing Zeng Chen to make a move and do a fine save.
Seongnam was able to fortify its attack as the second half of the game kicked off. Four minutes after the break, Kim Do-heon's in-swinging corner hit the near post.
Meanwhile, Ricardo Bueno's goal was disallowed for offside before Guangzhou was able to extend their lead. Goulart's header from the corner of Zheng Long beat the Seongnam goalkeeper, yet again, during the 57th minute.
Though Kim Do-heon kicked a long-range hoping for luck, he only saw his shot whistle past the post.
Zheng Cheng broke the South Korean team's last chance as the player's leg denied Lim Chai-min's shot in the box in the stoppage time.
The match made the Guangzhou Evergrande the only team from CSL to enter the last eight of this season's AFC Champions League.
