Two goals in two first half minutes effectively sealed Guangzhou Evergrande’s passage to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League as Marcello Lippi’s side completed a 6-1 aggregate win with a comprehensive 4-1 success over Lekhwiya on Wednesday.

Entering the game with a two-goal deficit, Lekhwiya knew they had to make progress and came out like a runaway train. The anxious hosts produced five shots in the opening stages, with Ismaeel Mohammad the closest to opening the scoring with a stinging shot.

Having weathered the early onslaught, however, Guangzhou were suddenly two goals up courtesy of a pair of sublimely-taken set-pieces.

A foul on Elkeson close to the touchline on the left side of the Lekhwiya penalty area in the 14th minute put the home team on the defensive and, as Conca sent a low, left-footed effort curling towards goal, the ball was missed by everyone before finding its way into the back of the net.

Two minutes later another free kick effectively ended Lekhwiya’s already slim hopes, this time Elkeson striking after Conca had been upended, the Brazilian striking sweetly a right-footed attempt from 25 yards out that looped over the defensive wall. While goalkeeper Claude Amin managed to put a hand on the ball, it was not enough to stop the shot going in off his right post.

With the hosts stunned, Muriqui made it 3-0 on the half-hour mark with his ninth goal of the campaign.

Nam Taehee pulled one back for Lekhwiya after the restart when his shot was deflected home. But the visitors restored the five-goal aggregate lead through Elkeson, who sealed the matchday’s biggest win with his second.

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