21.05.2019 14:03 h

Supersub Nagasawa puts Urawa into Champions League last 16

Substitute Kazuki Nagasawa scored one goal and made another Tuesday as Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds won 3-0 to knock Chinese Super League leaders Beijing Guoan out of the AFC Champions League.

It was the Japanese who joined Group G winners Jeonbuk Motors in the knockout stage draw. The South Korean side drew 0-0 with Thailand's Buriram United Tuesday in a dead rubber.

Urawa had an early scare when captain Yosuke Kashiwagi was injured in a tackle in the first minute and forced to give way 10 minutes later, stretchered off to be replaced by Nagasawa.

But they needn't have worried as it was the substitute who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute as he shrugged off weak Beijing challenges at the edge of the box to fire past goalkeeper Zou Dehai.

Head-to-head records meant Beijing needed at least a score draw to go through to the last 16 as the second-placed side ahead of Urawa.

But the visitors' task became harder when Nagasawa turned provider seven minutes later, sliding in Yuki Muto to score with a deflected shot after a bullocking run down the left flank.

Muto missed a gilt-edged opportunity to put the result beyond doubt within a minute of the restart when he headed weakly straight at Zou from six yards out.

Beijing's former Villareal strike Cedric Bakambu had the best of the away team's chances, seeing his first-half header from Renato Augusto's cross saved and then shooting rashly when through in the 51st minute.

Bakambu 20 minutes later appealed for a penalty after tumbling in the box but Iraqi referee Ali Sabah Al-Qaysi was well placed to wave away his pleas.

Beijing became more desperate as they pushed forward searching for a goal and were caught on the counter-attack in the 81st minute as Muto played in Shinzo Koroki to seal the three points and qualification.