Ulsan Hyundai cruise past Melbourne Victory in AFC Champions League

Bjorn Maars Johnsen grabbed a double and Won Du-Jae was also on target as Ulsan Hyundai beat Melbourne Victory 3-0 in the AFC Champions League.

Johnsen slotted past Max Crocombe in the 65th minute and Du-Jae doubled the lead 12 minutes later when the second-half substitute headed home, and Johnsen's tap-in four minutes from time sealed a straightforward victory. 

Crocombe was called into action midway through the first half for the Victory, denying Kim In-Sung in a one-on-one as Ulsan began the brighter. Crocombe again stood firm after the restart, making a smart stop to deny Junior Negrao. 

Victory were sluggish but did have chances of their own, Brandon Lauton forcing Jo So-Huk into a decent stop with a powerful drive, before Ulsan finally found the breakthrough.

Johnsen's first of the evening set Ulsan on their way and then Du-Jae, who had only been on five minutes, rose highest to head home a free kick to but his side firmly in charge. Johnsen then rounded off the match in the closing minutes with an easy tap-in to put the game beyond Melbourne.

Beijing Guoan joined Ulsan in the last eight after Alan Carvalho scored the only goal as the Chinese Super League side knocked FC Tokyo out of the championship. The Brazil-born striker, who took Chinese citizenship last year, netted just before the hour mark from close range.

Former Brazil international Renato Augusto cut the ball back from the byline to Carvalho and the 31-year-old, on loan with Beijing from Guangzhou Evergrande, put his side in front with a deflected right foot shot.

Japan's Emperor's Cup holders Vissel Kobe next take on Shanghai SIPG before Suwon Bluewings face Yokohama F Marinos to complete play in the round-of-16 phase of the competition.The draw for the quarterfinals will take place in Doha on Tuesday as the coronavirus-delayed competition continues to be played in a biosecure bubble in the Qatari capital. At stake is a place in the final at the Al Janoub Stadium on Dec. 19, when the leading club from east Asia will take on Iran's Persepolis.

The side from Tehran booked their place in the decider in October during a centralised competition in Qatar for teams from the western half of the continent.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.