TOKYO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Kashima Antlers managed to move into the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League despite of losing the second leg 3-2 in round of 16 against J-League rivals Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Tuesday.
Antlers, as the 2017 champions, entered the second leg with a 1-0 lead on Brazilian striker Serginho's goal in last week's first leg, but this turned out to be unexpected as Antlers went through on away goals.
Shoma Doi scored both of Antlers goals in a game that started at a slow tempo but ended up in a fury. At the halftime, Sanfrecce's Brazilian striker Patric was introduced, which galvanized the hosts' attack and nearly bought Hiroshima its first spot in the Asian Champions League's final eight.
When it reached 33 minutes, the game saw Sanfrecce taking pot shots from set plays at the Kashima goal -- one forcing a good save from keeper Kwoun Sun Tae -- only for Antlers to land the first blow from a counter led by veteran midfielder Leo Silva.
Sanfrecce nearly equalized the score in the 42nd minute when a mistake by keeper Kwoun forced Antlers defender Ryota Nagaki to clear the ball off the line.
As the situation looked increasingly dire, Patric made his mark in the 66th minute. Stationed at the left post, he met a cross from the right and his header deflected off Tomoya Inukai for an own goal.
The Brazilian came close to scoring twice in the following minutes, the second time forcing Kwoun to punch the ball to Sanfrecce defender Sho Sasaki, who buried the rebound to make it 2-1.
Just as the energy in the stadium began to match the ferocity of Sanfrecce's attack, Doi broke into the Hiroshima half. Keeper Hirotsugu Nakabayashi prevented a goal by tripping the Antlers striker but was handed a straight red.
Two minutes after he was denied a penalty kick following a collision near the box, Patric appeared to put Sanfrecce in the driver's seat in the 82nd minute by tapping in a cross from Yoshifumi Kashiwa.
"I contributed to our efforts," Patric said. "I thought I deserved a penalty kick, but all I can do is prepare my best to do my bit for the team in the J-League.
In the 89th minute, Doi finally got his second. With substitute Sanfrecce keeper Takuto Hayashi up front trying to head in a corner, Doi broke free and scored from 40 meters out.
The goal looked like an afterthought with the clock running out and Sanfrecce down to 10 men, but with seconds left in added time, Patric scored from the spot after he was pulled down in the penalty area.
