The quartet join J.League outfit Kawasaki Frontale, Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Al Wahda of the United Arab Emirates and defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea in the knockout stage, which commences on September 19.

While the group stage produced a number of sub-plots, perhaps the most significant was the success of Japanese sides Urawa and Kawasaki, who became the first clubs from their country to reach the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League, albeit in contrasting styles.

Despite managing only two wins in six matches, J.League champions Urawa emerged as winners of a tough Group E that included Australia’s Sydney FC, Indonesian league champions Persik Kediri and Shanghai Shenhua of China.

Urawa led Sydney by a single point after their 3-3 draw against Persik in their penultimate game and Holger Osieck’s side duly held the A-League side to a goalless stalemate in their closing match to secure their passage to the last eight.

It proved to be far easier for Kawasaki, who had qualification effectively sewn up after four games in Group F.

Last season’s J.League runners-up were surprisingly held 1-1 at home by Bangkok University but a pair of wins against Korean FA Cup holders Chunnam Dragons in April put them six points clear with two games remaining.

They duly swept aside Arema Malang of Indonesia 3-0 to advance and a 2-1 win at Bangkok University in their final game meant that they finished the group stage with the most goals (15) and the highest points tally (16).

While Chunnam faltered, K-League champions Seongnam ensured that there would be two Korean sides in the quarter-final draw after dramatically overcoming Chinese champions Shandong Luneng in Group G.

The 2004 AFC Champions League runners-up appeared to be on their way out when they trailed by two goals at Adelaide United on Matchday Three but they fought back for a 2-2 draw and then beat the Australians 1-0 in Korea to remain in the hunt.

Needing to beat Shandong by a two-goal margin in the group decider, they went one better with a 3-0 win to leave China without a team in the quarter-finals for the first time.

The only country to be represented in the last eight of every edition of the AFC Champions League is the United Arab Emirates, with Al Wahda continuing their proud tradition by topping Group A.

The Abu Dhabi side never looked back after winning their first three games against Al Rayyan of Qatar, Al Arabi of Kuwait and Al Zawra’a of Iraq to open up a five point lead in the group.

A 1-1 home draw against Al Zawra’a on Matchday Four only delayed the inevitable and they advanced after trouncing Al Rayyan 3-0 two weeks later.

Al Wahda’s performance was in stark contrast to UAE league rivals Al Ain, who failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time after a dismal third-place finish in Group D.

Al Ain’s only victory was a 3-2 victory over Iranian side Sepahan but it was not enough to prevent the Hazfi Cup holders from topping the group as they finally reached the quarter-finals at the third time of asking.

A 1-0 win against Al Shabab in Riyadh on Matchday Two proved to be important for the team from Esfahan. Needing only a draw against the Saudis in their final game to qualify, they recorded yet another 1-0 win to clinch a quarter-final spot.

Saudi Arabia will be represented in the last eight by Al Hilal after the Riyadh giants made it fourth time lucky in the AFC Champions League by winning Group B.

In a group reduced to three teams following the disqualification of Estgehlal Tehran, Al Hilal were twice held to draws by Al Kuwait but a pair of 2-0 wins against Uzbek champions Pakhtakor proved decisive.

Finally, last year’s beaten finalists Al Karama of Syria proved that they were no one-year wonders by topping Group C.

Needing a home victory against Neftchi of Uzbekistan in their final game, the team from Homs delighted their fans by strolling to a 2-0 win, courtesy of a brace by Iyad Mando.

The Syrian league champions will no doubt be itching for revenge against Jeonbuk Motors, their conquerors in last year’s final, but they will only find out their quarter-final opponents on June 13 when the knockout stage draw is held in Kuala Lumpur.