Social media posts, big game mentality and tears of joy all feature as the-AFC.com talks to those involved in the latest edition of the Continent's most presitigious competition.

Kashima Antlers midfielder Shoma Doi netted a brace to lead the defending champions into the AFC Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday to earn this week's top accolade.

Doi scored the opener in Hiroshima but hosts Sanfrecce then produced a sterling comeback to level the scores on aggregate. The 27-year-old scored his second in the final minutes of the game to return the advantage to Kashima, with the Ibaraki club ultimately progressing on away goals.

The second strike, nominated for Goal of The Week, was of particular note while he also registered 41 touches, two shots on target and one chance created to gain a 9.1 rating to lead the Toyota Player of the Week standings.

Another J.League player, Shinzo Koroki (below, right) of Urawa Red Diamonds, took second place in the rankings as he also netted a double in their 3-0 away win over Ulsan Hyundai.

Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Kashima took a first half lead to double their aggregate advantage, but after the interval the game's momentum changed entirely as hosts Sanfrecce came roaring back.

Despite being away from home and going down early, Shanghai recovered to eventually prevail after a dramatic penalty shootout, and they can be thankful to their star man for the historic win.

Former FC Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho is no stranger to the grandest of stages with FIFA World Cup campaigns and UEFA Champions League appearances in his career so far.

And, indeed, Paulinho memorably announced himself to Asia's football fans with an incredible goal in the 2015 AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

So it may have come as little surprise that on Tuesday night he was once more of pivotal importance to Guangzhou.

Down 2-1 from the first leg in Saitama Stadium, Urawa looked to face a tough task at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium where their hosts were yet to concede in the 2019 tournament and had won five in a row on the continent.

Moreover, Urawa hadn't won a knockout round match away from home since their first title-winning campaign in 2007.