Marouane Fellaini gave Shandong the lead 11 minutes into the game and Kashima looked to be heading for the exit until Ito’s intervention from the bench in the last quarter of the game gave the holders all three points to seal second place in Group E.

The result means Kashima will take on fellow J.League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the last 16 next month while Shandong finish top of the group, despite the defeat, and will take on fellow Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande in the next round.

Gyeongnam finished the group phase of the Continental championship with eight points in third place in Group E, two adrift of Kashima Antlers after the Japanese side’s 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng ensured the holders take second place in the group and advance to the last 16.

Shandong top the final standings while JDT finished bottom as they proved unable to add to their four-point haul.

Chinese Super League side Guangzhou had to win at Tianhe Stadium to qualify as runners-up from Group F behind Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, with Korean FA Cup winners Daegu only needing a draw to progress.

And it was the home side who claimed the result they needed as Huang Bowen’s corner found the back of the net, with Guangzhou's Paulinho credited with the goal despite Jeong Tae-wook appearing to turn the ball into his own net from the edge of the six-yard area just after the hour mark.

Sanfrecce, who had already qualified for the last 16 as Group F winners, opened the scoring after just five minutes at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium courtesy of a header from Taishi Matsumoto.

Ola Toivonen’s free-kick briefly pulled the home side level with 20 minutes remaining, but quickfire goals from Yusuke Minagawa and Tsukasa Morishima secured the win for the visitors.

Kazuki Nagasawa, a first-half sub for the injured Yosuke Kashiwagi, ignited the Reds by scoring the opener and assisting Yuki Muto for the second before half-time. Shinzo Koroki ensured all three points with a late third for Urawa, who punched the second ticket out of Group G into the Round of 16.

The result mattered little, however as Jeonbuk had already sealed their spot in the next phase of the competition as Group G winners ahead of kick-off and Jose Morais’ side will next face Chinese Super League champions Shanghai SIPG in the Round of 16 next month.

The 2006 and 2016 champions were made to battle for the point at Jeonju World Cup Stadium against a Buriram United side looking to notch up a second win in a row against the K League side after their victory in Thailand on Matchday Two.

With a win guaranteeing Shanghai a place in the knockout stage, Oscar opened the scoring at the Shanghai Stadium after just seven minutes before doubling the home side’s lead just before half-time.