[goldenHuddlestone]

Korea Republics Chonbuk came from a goal down to beat 10-man Shanghai Shenhua 4-2 Wednesday and book a place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. A brace from Ze Carlo and strikes from Yeom Ki-lun and Chung Jung-kwan cancelled out Gao Lins opener for the Chinese side as Chonbuk went through 4-3 on aggregate.

The turning point came when Shenhua skipper Li Weifeng was dismissed shortly after Gao put them one-up. It changed the complexion of the tie, with the Chinese side going on the defensive. An 89th-minute goal by former German international Carsten Jancker, his first since joining Shenhua, gave them a late glimmer of hope but it was too little too late.

It will likely be an all-Korean semi-final with Ulsan taking a virtually unassailable 6-0 first leg lead to Riyadh later Wednesday where they play Saudi side Al Shabab. Chonbuk have never made the semis of Asias premier club competition before, falling in the quarter-finals last year to eventual champions Al Ittihad.

It was a much-needed shot-in-the-arm for Chonbuk who are out of the Korean FA Cup and struggling in the K-League, meaning the AFC Champions League is their last hope of silverware this season. In other matches, defending champions Al Ittihad travel to Syria to defend a 2-0 lead against Al Karama while last years beaten finalists Al Ain of United Arab Emirates play at home against 11-time Kuwaiti champions Al Qadisiya. The first leg ended 2-2.