Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande scrapped their way into the AFC Champions League semi-finals as they fought out a bad-tempered 1-1 draw for a 4-2 aggregate win over Kashiwa Reysol on Wednesday.

Huang Bowen's sumptuous first-half equaliser provided a rare moment of quality at Tianhe Stadium with the second period more notable for robust challenges and yellow cards.

Chelsea-linked defender Zhang Linpeng was lucky to stay on the pitch after he went in two-footed on Ryosuke Yamanaka, and Feng Xiaoting and Kim Young-Gwon also saw yellow.

Scolari, who arrived in June, will be keen to secure the wealthy Chinese club's second Asian title just a year after his World Cup flop on home soil with his native Brazil.

The no-nonsense coach earned a reputation for his uncompromising style after a series of pitchside bust-ups while coaching league football in his home country.

It showed a different side to Guangzhou, usually better known for the sort of free-flowing attack which earned them a 3-1 win in Kashiwa in last month's first leg.

The Japanese side walked out at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium with much ground to make up, but they got a lifeline on 12 minutes when Cristiano nodded them in front.

The Brazilian forward climbed in the penalty box to meet a free-kick from close to the right touchline, and planted an unstoppable header into the far corner.

With the aggregate score at 3-2, the early goal stung the Chinese league-leaders but Huang restored their cushion with a beautiful half-volley on the half-hour.

Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, the Chinese international swept it home left-footed with a shot which rocketed straight into the top corner.

But despite a team peppered with Brazilian talent, that was to be the only score for Guangzhou, who now play either Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors or Gamba Osaka in the two-legged semis.