Jinan: China PR's Shandong Luneng will make their ninth appearance in the AFC Champions League Group Stage after defeating Hanoi FC of Vietnam 4-1 in the play-off stage match at the Jinan Olympic Sports Centre on Tuesday.

The action in eastern China began in lively fashion with chances at either goal in the opening 15 minutes.

Zhang Chi and Roger Guedes fired over when inside the area for Shandong, while Hanoi FC forward Pape Omar also went close after some slick passing from the Vietnamese club.

Former Southampton striker Pelle then had a header on target shortly after, before a slick one-two with Guedes saw the Italian fire in a firm strike that brought a fine stop from Nguyen Van Cong.

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The back-and-forth action continued, as Vietnam star Nguyen Quang Hai then forced Shandong goalkeeper Wang Dalei into a brace of flying saves with a pair of well-hit efforts ahead of the half-hour mark.

And Hanoi’s pressure took its toll, and with five minutes of the half remaining they took the lead.

Ganiyu Oseni’s clipped cross from the left found Hanoi captain Nguyen Van Quyet lurking and his bouncing volley zipped into the far corner of the net.

The hosts came out after the restart intent to get back on level terms and had efforts on goal from Zhang Chi, Guedes and Pelle, before substitute Liu Junshuai netted the equaliser from close range on the 65th minute.

Oseni then went narrowly wide at the other end, but Shandong’s comeback was complete on 73 minutes when Pelle rose highest to nod down Jin Jingdao’s cross to make the score 2-1.

Another substitute, Liu Binbin, then made sure of Shandong’s place in the 2019 AFC Champions League with a cool finish from inside the area in the 87th minute, before Zhou Haibin - only on the field for seven minutes prior - added a flourish to the scoreline when he tapped home in stoppage time for his team’s fourth.

Shandong will now compete in Group E of the competition proper, alongside defending champions Kashima Antlers, Gyeongnam FC of Korea Republic and Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta’zim.

Despite a spirited first half performance, this defeat makes it five times the Vietnamese club have crashed out in AFC Champions League qualifying. They will now take part in the 2019 AFC Cup where they join Tampines Rovers, Yangon United and Naga World in Group F.