Intro:

Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan held on for a one-nil win over the Central Coast Mariners of Australia in Group F on Tuesday to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Asian Champions League.

Seoul FC qualified for the last 16 after beating Beijing Guoan 2-1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Script:

Reigning J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima took on Central Coast Mariners of Australia in their final Group F match of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday.

The Mariners' loss to FC Seoul last week opened up the group - and all four teams had a chance to advance to the knock-out stage.

After a quiet first half and only a few efforts at goal the game came to life in the second.

The Mariners suffered a setback when substitute Brent Griffiths received a straight red card after fouling Naori Ishihara on the edge of the area.

Hiroshima took the lead off the resultant free-kick.

Tsukasa Shiotani's effort took a deflection off the edge of the wall and found it's way into the back of the net.

Hiroshima held on to win 1-0 and enter the round of 16 while the Mariners, who led the group until last week, were knocked out.

Elsewhere in the group, K-League side FC Seoul took on China's Super League side Beijing Guoan.

Seoul, already leading the group only needed a draw to progress, while Beijing had to win to advance.

However, last season's runners up Seoul went ahead through Seung-Jo Kang two minutes before the break.

Nobody touched the ball from his free-kick, and Seoul were ahead.

It was 2-0 in the 56th minute.

The ball to Ju-Tae Yun from Yun Illok was inch-perfect, and his right foot did the rest.

Yang Yun made it a nervy finish for the Seoul fans with a strike two minutes from time, but the K-League side hung on for a 2-1 win.

Beijing Guoan knocked out of the tournament, while Seoul march on into the last 16.