Two-time Asian champions Esteghlal from Iran will face fellow domestic champions FC Seoul in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League next week, while Chinese heavyweights Guangzhou Evergrande will meet Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol.

Esteghlal beat Thai Premier League leaders Buriram United 2-1 in the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday to advance 3-1 on aggregate, while Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou completed an empathic 4-1 win over Lekhwiya in Qatar for a 6-1 aggregate triumph.

The Iranian side will make the trip to Korea Republic for next week's semi-final first leg after FC Seoul beat Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli 1-0 to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory, while Guangzhou will travel to Kashiwa after the Emperor's Cup holders drew 2-2 in Saudi Arabia to eliminate Al Shabab on away goals.

"It is one of my dreams to be champion of Asian football with Esteghlal," said Esteghlal coach Amir Ghalenoei.

"We have the ability and potential to win the AFC Champions League and we believe we can."

Hanif Omranzadeh and Andranik Teymourian scored in the second half Iran champions Esteghlal recovered from seeing their slender one-goal first leg advantage cancelled out by Osmar Barba's header for the home side just before half-time.

And with Dejan Damjanovic netting a late minute winner as FC Seoul beat 2012 finalists Al Ahli 1-0 to advance to the semi-finals for the first time, Esteghlal will travel to Seoul World Cup Stadium next week looking to remain on course to add to the Asian Club Championship titles won in 1970 and 1991 and join Korea Republic's Pohang Steelers as the only three-time continental champions.

"We know that it will be a very tough game and we know that they are a very good team," said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo of Esteghlal following their second leg triumph.

"We are also an excellent team, however, with players that are of international standard and if we can maintain this team spirit then we will be OK."

In Doha, early goals by Dario Conca and Elkeson helped to ensure Guangzhou became the first Chinese semi-finalists in the AFC Champions League since Shenzhen Jianlibao in 2005.

Muriqui added a third to claim his tournament-leading ninth goal of the campaign in the 31st minute and although Nam Tae-hee got a goal back for the home side, Elkeson claimed his second – and his side's fourth – in the 72nd minute to seal an emphatic triumph.

"I'm extremely satisfied that we have managed to reach this goal," said Guangzhou coach Marcello Lippi, who is aiming to become the first coach to win both the AFC Champions League and the UEFA Champions League.

"We went really deep in this game, we put all of our efforts into it. This is a club that wants to do well and to reach the maximum of its goals. We are first in the championship in China, so this has been a very good year."

Finally in Riyadh, a 73rd minute header by Naoya Kondo proved decisive as Kashiwa became the first Japanese club since 2009 to reach the semi-finals as they defeated Al Shabab on away goals after a 2-2 draw.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Naif Hazazi had put Al Shabab ahead in Riyadh with a powerful header in the 10th minute but the visitors quickly got back on level terms as Kwak Tae-hwi headed a Ryiochi Kurisawa cross into his own net just three minutes later.

Kondo then got the crucial second away goal for Kashiwa and although Hassan Muath levelled the score again the closing minutes, it was not enough to save the Saudi club.

"It was a great result for us today as it means that we are through to the semi-finals," said Kashiwa coach Nelsinho Baptista after the match.

"We were surprised by the early goal of Al Shabab but our players made a quick comeback and scored the equaliser which took the pressure off their shoulders."

Related

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• Samuel backs Esteghlal to improve
• Evergrande take command against Lekhwiya
• Muriqui hails ‘world-class’ Lippi

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