Trio of champions set for semis

Guangzhou Evergrande remains on course to complete a regional and domestic double after derailing Japan's Kashiwa Reysol from the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

The Chinese national champion and 2003 AFC Champions League winner will now square off with another former champion, Japan's Gamba Osaka, in the semifinals of Asia's premier club competition while two-time continental champion Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia will take on Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates in the other semi.

Gamba edged out South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3-2 in Japan on Wednesday and the 2008 winner will travel to Guangzhou for the first leg on Sept 30 before hosting Luiz Felipe Scolari's side a month later in Osaka in the return fixture.