Cristiano Ronaldo still making it happen on (AFC) Champions League nights ✨ pic.twitter.com/cU65lKWmSv

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) February 21, 2024

In the eastern zone — the tournament is divided into two geographic halves until the final — there are representatives from South Korea, Japan and China.

There will be an all-South Korean quarterfinal between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan HD, both two-time champions.

In the second round, Ulsan defeated second-tier Japanese team Ventforet Kofu 5-1 on aggregate, winning 2-1 away after taking the first leg 3-0.

Jeonbuk followed its 2-0 win at home against fellow Korean team Pohang Steelers with a 1-1 draw.

China’s Shandong Taishan squeezed past Kawasaki Frontale of Japan with a dramatic 6-5 victory over two legs.

Shandong, down 3-2 from the first leg at home, quickly moved into a two-goal lead in Japan thanks to Brazilian forward Cryzan and Gao Zhunyi.

Sota Miura and Erison restored Kawasaki’s lead but with 17 minutes remaining, Cryzan made it 5-5. In the 97th minute, Jadson struck to send Shandong, seeking a first title, into a quarterfinal against another Japanese opponent.

Yokohama F. Marinos, booked a place in the last eight for the first time after defeating Bangkok United 3-2 on aggregate with Anderson Lopes scoring the only goal in the return match after the first leg in Thailand ended 2-2.