Guillermo Amor's Reds left their run too late at Coopers Stadium, while Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC's continental groups were completed via the play-offs

Adelaide United's hopes of playing in this year's AFC Champions League have been extinguished after a 2-1 play-off defeat to Shandong Luneng.

First-half goals to Yang Xu and Diego Tardelli had the Chinese Super League club 2-0 up at half-time and seemingly easing through to the group stage of the competition.

But the second-half dismissal of Wang Yongpo gave the Reds hope.

A host of wasted chances followed, with Marcelo Carrusca's penalty that struck the bar the worst of them, before the hosts pulled a goal back in the final minute through Sergio Cirio.

The Reds pushed hard for an equaliser with Sergio van Dijk and Cirio both going close during a dramatic six minutes of stoppage time.

But Shandong held on under great pressure to prevail in an entertaining clash at Coopers Stadium to book their spot in the ACL proper.

Despite being eliminated Adelaide were far from disgraced against the highly-fancied Chinese side, creating some great scoring chances throughout which they just couldn't capitalise on.

The defeat means Melbourne Victory and Sydney will be the two A-League clubs to play in this year's continental competition.

Shandong opened the scoring in the 17th minute when a sloppy turnover allowed Walter Montillo to drive at the heart of the Reds' defence before the Argentinian hit a powerful shot, which Eugene Galekovic did well to save, only for Xu to head in the rebound.

The visitors doubled their lead six minutes before the break as Montillo started a flowing move that Tardelli finished off, heading in Yongpo's cross.

Craig Goodwin should have struck early in the second half but put his header wide from Carrusca's brilliant cross, while after Yongpo's red card, Adelaide won a penalty for a handball by Zhao Mingjian only for Carrusca to slam his effort onto the crossbar.

Shandong would hold on to move into Group F and will play against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, FC Seoul and Buriram United.

Other play-off matches finalised Victory and Sydney's groups.

Shanghai SIPG defeated Muangthong United of Thailand 3-0 to join Victory in Group G, while Shim Dong-woon struck a hat-trick for Pohang Steelers, who overcame Vietnam's Ha Noi T&T to qualify for Group H alongside the Sky Blues.

Former Guangzhou Evergrande striker Elkeson made his debut for Shanghai SIPG but it was fellow striker Wu Lei who saw off Muangthong, with his brace split by Dario Conca's goal.

In South Korea, Pohang cruised past their Vietnamese opposition to join Sydney, reigning champions Evergrande and Urawa Red Diamonds in Group H.