OSAKA, Japan: Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG moved to the verge of the AFC Champions League knock-out rounds with a convincing 2-0 away win over Japan’s Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.

Second-half goals from Wu Lei and Lu Wenjun made it three wins out of four for SIPG, spearheaded by Guangzhou Evergrande old boys Elkeson and Dario Conca, as they tightened their grip on Group G.

Playmaker Conca fired warning shots in the first half when his free kick was blocked on the line and another effort dropped at the feet of Yu Hai, who embarrassingly missed an open goal.

Gamba’s Takashi Usami had a turn-and-shot tipped over the bar but SIPG had the edge and it was no surprise when they took the lead with a well-worked team goal on 66 minutes.

Argentina’s Conca fed Wu on the edge of the box and the forward exchanged a one-two with Lu before he planted the return ball past Gamba goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi.

SIPG cashed in on errors in the Gamba box six minutes later when Wu’s shot was parried by the ‘keeper and only half-cleared to Lu, who swung and blasted it home first-time.

Elsewhere Vietnam’s Binh Duong got their first win in Group E when they stunned 2006 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2, sealed by Nguyen Anh Duc’s second penalty of the night on 88 minutes.

Jeonbuk finished the bad-tempered game with nine men after both Kim Chang-Soo and Kim Hyung-Il were sent off as the visitors squandered a 2-1 first-half lead.

Nguyen scored from the spot in the 12th minute before Jeonbuk took charge with goals from Lee Jong-Ho and Han Kyo-Won, only for Christian Amougou to make it 2-2 on 35 minutes.

And Nguyen held his nerve to bury his second spot-kick two minutes from time to resurrect Binh Duong’s campaign and give them hope of reaching the last 16.

In the other game in Group G, Kosta Barbarouses canceled out Kwon Chang-Hoon’s second-half opener within just two minutes as Melbourne Victory held Suwon Samsung Bluewings to a 1-1 draw

AFC warning

Asia’s football governing body Wednesday reiterated its warning to member associations to remain independent of third party interference, saying it hindered the game’s growth in the region.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) did not refer to any specific country, however Indonesia was suspended from international football last May after the government attempted to replace the country’s football association and Kuwait was banned in October because of alleged government interference in the sport.

“We need to support these MAs (member associations) to make sure their football does not fall behind. We also need to take all possible steps to avoid third-party intervention in our MAs,” said deputy chairman of the AFC Taskforce, Mariano V. Araneta Jr.

He said member associations were being punished for actions that were outside their control.

“It is extremely damaging for the members, who are not only banned from playing international football but also lose their grassroots funding.

“Development is being hugely affected in these MAs through lost income from their sponsors, as well as funding from the AFC and FIFA. This, in turn, leads to staff losses and canceled projects,” he added.

The task force also discussed the scope of suspensions arising from external intervention, agreeing that suspended member associations should still be eligible to get development and financial support from the AFC and FIFA.