Goals from Jonathan Viera and Zhang Yuning gave Bruno Génésio’s side a third win in the seven days, taking them beyond the group stage of the competition for the first time since 2015, and doing so with two games to spare.

While Beijing can look forward to the knockout stage, where they will join Japan’s Vissel Kobe, a third successive defeat in the competition leaves Melbourne Victory’s hopes of progression hanging by a thread, with the Australian club now relying on circumstances beyond their control if they are to extend their stay in Doha.

The Australian side went into the game knowing anything less than their first-ever AFC Champions League win would mean early elimination on their debut, while Ulsan Hyundai needed the three points to stay clear off FC Tokyo in the race for round-of-16 places.

It took a last-minute strike from Jun Amano for the Japanese side to grab a 1-0 win, earning them the three points when the two teams met at the same ground on Wednesday. A result that means Yokohama F. Marinos need just three points to secure first place in the group.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou’s side arrived in Doha with six points already secured, having beaten Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1 and Sydney FC 4-0 in February.

The Japanese side put on an impressive display when the two teams met at Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. Kyogo Furuhashi scored in the same net either side of the halftime break before late goals from Douglas and Andres Iniesta sealed a 3-1 win for Vissel Kobe.

A 1-0 win against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in February, coupled with Johor Darul Ta’zim withdrawing from the competition, meant head coach Atsuhiro Miura’s side advanced to the knockout stage on their Continental debut, securing a top-two place in Group G.

Qualification places are up for grabs in tightly contested groups as 12 of the 15 sides in the East square off for the second time this year. With six matches set to be played over two days, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for in the upcoming round of fixtures.

Doha: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Song Beom-keun has been voted by the fans as the 2020 AFC Champions League (East) Toyota Player of the Week after the goalkeeper's phenomenal performance against Sydney FC on Wednesday.

The recently turned 23-year-old custodian was in superlative form making eight saves as he kept a cleansheet to help the Korean champions secure a vital three points in the Group H clash.