Tianjin Quanjian on brink of AFC Champions League exit

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Tianjin Quanjian’s faint hopes of reaching the AFC Champions League semi-final were hanging by a thread following their 2-0 first-leg defeat to Kashima Antlers on Tuesday night.

Leo Silva smashed home the opener on the hour mark from inside the area to give Kashima a deserved lead before new signing Serginho doubled his side's advantage with a low drive from long range that gave Tianjin goalkeeper Zhang Lu little chance.

Quanjian boss Paulo Sousa was left lamenting the absence of Axel Witsel and Anthony Modeste as his side endure a miserable night in Japan.

Witsel left Tianjin this month to join Borussia Dortmund while Modeste is reported to be engaged in a contract dispute and was not selected for Tianjin's first appearance in the last eight of the continental championship.

Pato remains optimistic despite a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Kashima Antlers on August 28. /VCG Photo

"Witsel and Modeste were absent from this game and they are very important for us, not only in the game but also tactically," Sousa said. "Their absence affected us. Some of our players were not in their usual positions but they did well.

"The Japanese players were very good at home. They were very good at controlling the ball and were very quick. I hope we can get a good result at home," he added.

Sousa's optimism was echoed by striker Alexandre Pato. The Brazil star said: "OK, we lost but we tried to do our best. We have another game in hand and we can do better than today. At 2-0 it's not over."

Quanjian, the Chinese Super League's sole survivors in the AFC Champions League, will host Kashima in the return leg on September 18.

(With input from agencies)