Jeonbuk eliminates big-spending Jiangsu with 2-2 draw

JEONJU, South Korea (AP) - South Korean champion Jeonbuk Hyundai drew 2-2 at home against Jiangsu Suning on Wednesday to secure first place in Group E and advance to the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League.

Jiangsu was eliminated from the group stage, just like another big-spending Chinese club, Guangzhou Evergrande.

Brazilian trio Ramires, Alex Teixeira and Jo all played a role in giving Jiangsu a 2-1, but a well-worked corner in the 68th minute resulted in the equalizer.

Jiangsu began the day in second place, but a draw saw the team slip to third behind FC Tokyo, which beat Vietnamese club Binh Duong 2-1.

Jeonbuk won the Asian Champions League in 2006 and was runner-up in 2011.

In Vietnam, two goals from striker Ryuichi Maeda gave Tokyo a spot in the next round.

In Group F, Thai club Buriram United played out a goalless draw with second-place Shandong Luneng, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat group leader FC Seoul 2-1.

FC Seoul and Shandong had already qualified for the next round.