Gamba knocked out of ACL, Koreans progress

OSAKA, Japan (AP) - Reigning champion Gamba Osaka was knocked out of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday, while two South Korean clubs progressed to the quarterfinals.

Gamba was beaten 3-2 by Japansese rival Kawasaki Frontale, who scored two late goals for a memorable comeback victory.

South Korea's Pohang Steelers crushed Australia's Newcastle Jets 6-0 and FC Seoul prevailed in a penalty shootout over Japan's Kashima Antlers after a 2-2 draw.

Nagoya Grampus also won through to the last eight with a 2-1 win over South Korea's Suwon Bluewings.

Kawasaki Frontale triumphed over Gamba thanks to a late winner by substitute Masaru Kurotsu, who scored with a left-foot drive from 15 meters with just five minutes remaining.

Gamba's Brazilian striker Leandro scored a pair of first-half goals either side of Kengo Nakamura's effort for Frontale, putting the defending champions up 2-1.

That lead lasted until the 76th minute when Frontale's own Brazilian forward Renatinho equalized, setting the stage for Kurotsu's winner.

Like Gamba, Suwon Bluewings were another former winner eliminated Wednesday, beaten by Nagoya Grampus.

Yoshizumi Ogawa gave Nagoya 1-0 lead in the first half, converting a pass from Davi in the 22nd minute. Japan international Keiji Tamada doubled the advantage in the 66th minute with a powerful left-foot drive from 15 meters.

Brazilian Edu pulled one back for Suwon in the 69th minute but the visitors couldn't score an equalizer.

In Kashima, Park Yong-ho scored the winner in a lengthy and dramatic penalty shootout as FC Seoul knocked out Kashima Antlers.

After Kashima defender Atsuto Uchida fired high over the net with his penalty, Park beat goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata to give the South Koreans a 5-4 shootout win after extra time ended with the teams locked 2-2.

Kashima led from the fifth minute when Shinzo Kuroki scored, but Lee Seung-ryul equalized in the 22nd when he seized on a loose ball in the area.

Takeshi Aoki gave Kashima a 2-1 lead with a header from a corner early in the second half but Ki Sung-yong pulled the visitors even with a freekick from 30 meters in the 78th minute.

In the shootout, both teams missed their opening shots, and Kashima its second, giving Seoul the advantage until Brazilian Adilson missed for the visitors, leaving the teams tied 2-2 after four shots each. Both scored in the fifth and sixth rounds, then Uchida blazed over and Park found the net.

In Pohang, the Steelers dominated out-of-season Newcastle from start to finish, with Choi Hyo-jin scoring a hattrick.

Brazilian striker Denilson put Pohang ahead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute before Choi scored his first in the 15th minute.

Newcastle harbored comeback hopes until a flurry of second-half goals.

Midfielder Kim Jae-sung made it 2-0 in the 56th minute before Choi completed his hattrick with goals in the 63rd and 72nd minutes.

Macedonian international striker Stevica Ristic comleted the rout in the 85th minute.

Pohang is one of two former champions left in the competition, along with Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad, who won in last month's west Asian round-of-16 games that also saw Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor and Pakhtakor progress along with Qatar's Umm Salal.