Browning made just nine appearances in all competitions for Everton after emerging from the Premier League team's youth academy.

The 24-year-old played 29 times on loan for Sunderland during the 2017-18 season as the Black Cats were relegated from the Championship.

Browning was unable to break into the Everton line-up under new boss Marco Silva and had spent the current campaign playing for the club's Under-23 side.

"Defender Tyias Browning has joined Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for an undisclosed fee," a statement on Everton's website announced.

Former quarter-finalists Shandong had kicked off their play-off match against Hanoi, yet to appear at the Group Stage, as favourites but the Vietnamese champions impressed in the first half, taking a deserved lead through captain Nguyen Van Quyet before the break.

Coach Li Xiaopeng responded by bringing on Liu Junshuai for Wu Xinghan after the restart and the 24-year-old made the difference, firing home after Hanoi's defence failed to deal with a Liu Binbin header across goal.

After beating Iraq’s Air Force Club in Tashkent in last week’s preliminary round, the Uzbek team had to win away at Al Maktoum Stadium in the play-off round on Tuesday to secure a place in the continental competition, but when they conceded an early penalty it looked like they could face an uphill battle.

Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo missed before Serbian Ceran was handed his own chance from the spot, one which he duly accepted by guiding the ball into the bottom left corner to put his team a goal up just after the half hour.

So far the record reads: eight AFC Champions League appearances, eight AFC Champions League Group Stage eliminations for Al Rayyan.

But with a comeback win over Iranian side Saipa in the play-offs to confirm a ninth continental campaign, 2019 could be the year that breaks the knockout stage drought according to fullback Al Alawi.

Of the 11 who started Tuesday's AFC Champions League Play-off for defending champions Kashima, only new signing Ito had not been a part of the historic triumph in Tehran last November.

But the former Yokohama F. Marinos forward took little time in adjusting to the continental game, opening the scoring at Kashima Soccer Stadium in the 18th minute with his maiden goal for the club.

Chiangrai had the first sight on goal inside 10 minutes at a saturated Hiroshima Athletic Stadium when Brazilian defender Brinner headed Lee Yong-rae’s corner from the left straight at goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.

Hiroshima were then given the perfect chance to open the scoring in the 10th minute when Tanasak Srisai handled Yusuke Minagawa’s goal bound effort and the referee pointed to the spot, only for Minagawa to see his ensuing spot kick well saved by custodian Saranon Anuin.

After Hwang Il-su went off with an early injury, his replacement Kim In-sung could have opened the scoring in the ninth minute but dragged his shot narrowly wide after bursting into the penalty area with intent.

But the hosts then did go in front midway through the half when Kim Tae-hwan broke into the box after a lovely give-and-go with Kim Bo-kyung and his cross was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Amirul Azhan.

The lively Kim In-sung struck a low effort from outside the penalty area just minutes later but Perak goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim was equal to the challenge and tipped wide for a corner.