POHANG, South Korea: Guangzhou Evergrande kept their stumbling AFC Champions League title defence alive with a deserved 2-0 win over Pohang Steelers on Tuesday -- their first victory of the competition.

Chinese international striker Gao Lin set up the first goal and scored the second as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side finally got a win at the fifth attempt in Group H.

But the well-heeled Chinese domestic champions are still relying on Sydney FC beating Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday if they are to avoid exiting at the group stage.

The win for Evergrande, the leading lights of cashed-up China's football revolution, was their first in the Asian tournament since they won their second title in three years last November.

Evergrande were on top but wasteful in the early exchanges as ex-Spurs midfielder Paulinho passed up a string of chances, including a scuffed shot from just outside the six-yard box.

The champions' opener came in the 33rd minute, when Gao fired a raking ball to Ricardo Goulart and the Brazilian snapped up the chance from a tight angle at the back post.

Lacklustre Pohang managed little in reply and Gao doubled Evergrande's advantage two minutes after half-time when he arrowed a diagonal shot past home goalkeeper Kim Jin-Young.

Evergrande should have had a third nine minutes later when substitute Li Yuanyi met a cross sweetly on the half-volley, but saw his shot creep just wide.

Elsewhere a double from Brazilian striker Santos kept Suwon Samsung Bluewings's last-16 hopes alive as they beat Gamba Osaka 2-1 away in Group G.

Santos scored twice in eight minutes shortly after half-time before a consolation strike from Yasuyuki Konno in the 89th minute.

With the win, Suwon drew level on points with Melbourne Victory after their 3-1 loss to Sven-Goran Eriksson's Shanghai SIPG, who rubber-stamped their progression as Group G winners.

Goals from Yu Hai and former Guangzhou Evergrande players Elkeson and Dario Conca made it a straightforward night for SIPG, who have enjoyed four wins in five games.

It set up a nail-biting final round of matches as Suwon and Melbourne compete for the second spot in the group and a place in the knock-out stage.

Sydney FC ready to make club history in Asia

Australia's Sydney FC said they were ready to "make history" when they take on Japanese giants Urawa Red Diamonds at home on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League, where a draw could take them through to the last 16 for the first time.

The clash comes as defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande remain at risk of exiting the Asian club tournament just two months after smashing China's transfer fee record to sign Colombian striker Jackson Martinez.

"They have some big names which we don't have or Sydney FC doesn't have, but we and Sydney FC played as a team," Petrovic told reporters in Sydney via a translator when commenting on the side coached by World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari.

"When you look at individuals, obviously they have the better side. But I think we gained confidence by winning (against) this Chinese giant because it proves that money isn't everything in football," he added.

Sydney FC's 1-0 victory earlier this month against South Korea's Pohang Steelers -- Asia's most successful club team -- to record their third-straight ACL win showcased the strides the Australian team has taken in the regional contest.

But Sydney FC manager Graham Arnold said his players would face a tough challenge against what he described as the "Manchester United of Japanese football", with the harbourside team losing 2-0 against Urawa in their opening group game in February.

"We have the chance of making history with Sydney," Arnold said.

"It's obviously a very tough group. Today to be sitting on nine points from four games and winning the last three in a row is a fantastic achievement but we still haven't done anything yet.

"To get through to the last 16 is hugely important and then we take it from there."