Ulsan storm into Champions League last 16

HONG KONG: South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai FC powered into the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League Wednesday with a 6-2 demolition of Melbourne Victory, who crashed out.

Ulsan joined the already qualified Shanghai SIPG in the knockout stages from Group F after the Australian side conceded a comical goal to open the floodgates.Just 12 minutes had elapsed when Junior Negrao threw out a hopeful boot at a clearance from Melbourne goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas, who was mortified to see the ball ricochet back over his head from the Brazilian and into the empty net.

Lim Jong-eun got the second with a cool finish and Mislav Orsic thumped home a third before half-time to put the home side in complete control.Kim Seung-jun made it 4-0 for Ulsan 10 minutes after the break and Junior bagged his second before a brief fightback from Melbourne.

The visitors scored twice in two minutes through Kenny Athiu and Kosta Barbarouses. But any fleeting hopes of an against-the-odds fightback were snuffed out when Orsic thumped in his second to make it 6-2.