Magath's Shandong crash out of AFC Champions League

FC Seoul sent Felix Magath's Shandong Luneng crashing out of the AFC Champions League and ended Chinese interest in the competition as they powered into the semi-finals on Wednesday. Substitute Yun Ju-Tae provided the coup de grace on 83 minutes, sealing a 1-1 draw in the second leg after Walter Montillo's opener on 59 minutes had raised hopes among Shandong's home fans. After Seoul won the first leg 3-1, they ran out 4-2 aggregate winners and completed another Korean victory over Chinese opposition after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors thrashed Shanghai SIPG 5-0 on Tuesday. The result also denies China a third Champions League title in four seasons, after Guangzhou Evergrande won in 2013 and 2015, despite Chinese clubs' large-scale spending spree on players and coaches this year. Ex-Bayern Munich and Fulham manager Magath was brought in mid-campaign to replace former Brazil boss Mano Menezes, but he couldn't prevent an all-Korean semi-final with FC Seoul now set to face Jeonbuk later this month. The visitors were content to sit back and let Shandong make the running in a first period which saw little goalmouth action until a frantic few minutes just before half-time. Shandong's Montillo flashed a free-kick wide on 44 minutes and in first-half injury time, Seoul's ex-Arsenal forward Park Chu-Young shot tamely when one-on-one with goalkeeper Wang Dalei. Five minutes after the break, Shandong's star signing Graziano Pelle came close to breaking the deadlock but the ex-Southampton striker put his glancing header wide. It was Shandong stand-out Montillo who deservedly grabbed the opener when he nodded home Hao Junmin's cross on 59 minutes to put Shandong one goal away from the semis. Hao whipped a turn-and-shot just over the crossbar, but Yun then broke Chinese hearts when he finished from close range after Dejan Damjanovic's perfectly placed cushion-volley. FC Seoul completed the win without even turning to tournament top-scorer Adriano, who is one away from a record-equalling 13 goals but remained on the bench.