Guangzhou Evergrande reach AFC Champions League quarter-finals
Fabio Cannavaro's side overturns a first-leg deficit to see off South Korea's Seongnam FC 3-2 on aggregate
Guangzhou Evergrande sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League on Wednesday night with coach Fabio Cannavaro hailing the club's Chinese players.
They saw off South Korea's Seongnam FC with a 2-0 win at Tianhe Stadium that ensured a 3-2 aggregate win.
In the absence of four key foreigners, [the Chinese players] had a lot of responsibility and they achieved a great victory
Two goals from Ricardo Goulart, who opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute before adding a second three minutes before the hour mark, saw the 2013 champions overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit to book their berth in the last eight of the competition for the fourth year in a row.
"Ricardo Goulart is an extraordinary player," said Cannavaro of a player who has now scored eight goals in eight games to become the leading scorer in this year's competition so far.
"But I would like to show my appreciation for the Chinese players because in the absence of four key players, they had a lot of responsibility and they achieved a great victory."
Guangzhou were missing Brazilian strike duo Elkeson - who is out with a thigh complaint - and long-term casualty Alan while South Korean World Cup defender Kim Young-gwon was also missing.