Domestic champions Guangzhou Evergrande and FC Seoul edged closer to a place in the final of the AFC Champions League after recording wins over Japan's Kashiwa Reysol and Iran's Esteghlal respectively in Wednesday's semi-final first legs.

Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou scored four unanswered goals in the second half to take command of their meeting with previously unbeaten Emperor's Cup holders Kashiwa after recording an comprehensive 4-1 comeback win in Japan, while FC Seoul netted either side of half-time to beat Iranian champions Esteghlal 2-0 at home.

Guangzhou will look to become the first Chinese side since 1998 to reach a continental final in next week's second leg at Tianhe Sport Center, while FC Seoul will make the daunting trip to the Azadi Stadium in Tehran looking to become the fifth consecutive Korean side to reach the AFC Champions League final.

"I don't think we have got (a place in the final) yet," said Guangzhou coach Marcello Lippi.

"I'm 64 years old this year and have been in the coaching business for 30 years, and from that experience I can tell that you that you never know what will happen next in football, and Reysol have ability and were a tough side to play this time.

"We are still on the way to moving on to the next stage. But we want to win to advance to the next round."

At Hitachi Stadium, Kashiwa had taken the lead after just 10 minutes as former Guangzhou striker Cleo appeared to help a Jorge Wagner free-kick into the back of the net.

But after Brazilian striker Muriqui levelled the scores just before the hour mark, Dario Conca completed the comeback midway through the second half as the Argentinian playmaker netted for the fifth consecutive game in the competition.

And after Kim Chang-soo turned an 82nd minute corner from Conca into his own net, Muriqui netted his 11th of the campaign in injury time to end Kashiwa's unbeaten record in the competition in empathic style.

"The first half went well, according to our plans. We had good defence and went out to counterattack well and to create good chances from the sides. But our opponents increased their movement and sped up their play in the second half," said Kashiwa coach Nelsinho Baptista.

"We also started well after the break but gradually lost our rhythm and the ball and that resulted in a defeat like this. We gave away the lead to a side that has good ability and is decisive in front of goal."

At Seoul World Cup Stadium, Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic and Go Yo-han scored as FC Seoul moved a step closer to maintaining Korea Republic's impressive recent record in the competition which has delivered four AFC Champions League titles in the last five years.

"I was pleased with the way we played as we concentrated for every moment right up to the last minute and we got a good result in front of our home fans, but it is important that we realise this is only half-time and we have a difficult away leg to come," said FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo.

"We have come a long way but there is still work to do."

But Esteghlal, who are looking to add to the Asian Club Championship titles won in 1970 and 1991 to join Korea's Pohang Steelers as the only three-time continental champions, are still within touching distance after neither side was able to take advantage of a frantic final 20 minutes.

"One of our aims was to score an away goal, we tried a lot but we couldn't score, but the conditions in Tehran are completely different and I believe that we can solve that problem," said Esteghlal coach Amir Ghalenoei.

"It would have been good if we had scored but I think in Tehran we can score two goals. We will attack a lot and we will play to the best of our abilities in the second match."

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