TIANJIN Quanjian faces Guangzhou Evergrande in an all-Chinese clash next month after finishing second in Group E behind two-time champion Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea, which beat Hong Kong’s Kitchee 3-0 Wednesday to seal the top spot and set up a meeting with Thailand’s Buriram United.

“This is our debut season in the Asian Champions League (ACL) so it’s perfect that we finish the group in style,” Tianjin coach Paulo Sousa said after his side beat Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol. “We haven’t just gained 13 points, but also the players’ attitudes and abilities are starting to meet the challenge.

“We are fighting in three different competitions and I need all my players to get ready.

“I hope to bring what we gained in the Asian Champions League back into our domestic games so we can have a good run in the Chinese Super League (CSL) and in the Chinese GA Cup games.

“The players have shown great potential, and some of them will have the chance to get in the starting lineup in the CSL.”

Tianjin took a two-goal lead inside the first 30 minutes as captain Zhao Xuri struck twice.

Kei Koizumi reduced the deficit before halftime but former China international striker Yang Xu netted a third for Tianjin in the 64th minute before Yusuke Segawa gave Kashiwa hope once more.

Tianjin finishes the group phase with only one defeat, at the hands of Jeonbuk, amid a run of form that contrasts with the side’s struggles in the league, in which it is 10th — 11 points adrift of leader Shanghai SIPG.

SIPG has won all six of its Chinese Super League games but suffered its first loss of the year Wednesday when the side was beaten 2-1 by Melbourne Victory.

Vitor Pereira sent out a weakened side, leaving Oscar, Wu Lei and Odil Ahmedov out of the squad after SIPG secured first place in Group F two weeks ago, and the side faces Kashima Antlers in the next round.

“I’m always quite confident, no matter who we are due to play next,” Pereira said. “We are always confident.

(SD-Agencies)