HONG KONG, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin Quanjian powered into the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League after beating Hong Kong Kitchee 1-0 at Mongkok Stadium thanks to a late goal from Anthony Modeste here on Wednesday.
The Chinese Super League side has started the domestic season with only one win from its first four games, losing three straight matches entering the latest AFC Champions League tilt.
While also competing in the AFC Champions League group stage for the first time, Kitchee started the group stage suffering three straight defeats and then went on to make history by serving up a tasty upset against J-League side Kashiwa Reysol last month.
Quanjian almost took the lead in the 19th minute when Axel Witsel pulled his trigger in the box, but only saw the ball missed the target. The home side then settled into the match to create chances of their own as star man Diego Forlan stinging the palms of Zhang Lu after 34 minutes.
Both sides wasted chances and went into the half time break locked at 0-0.
Early in the second half, Kitchee came up with two clear chances to get in front. However, efforts from Krisztian Vadocz and Azevedi Aygysto both failed to hit the intended target.
Just when the match looked headed for a goalless stalemate, Modeste scored with a header from close range with just a minute of regulation time remaining.
The 1-0 score stood towards the final whistle, as Quanjian sealed a spot in the round of 16 and leaves open the possibility of finishing top of Group E should they defeat Kashiwa Reysol in their final match and Kitchee defeat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the other match.
