Champs Evergrande crash out in Sydney

Defending titleholder Guangzhou Evergrande crashed out of the AFC Champions League after group rivals Sydney FC and Urawa Red Diamonds battled to a scoreless draw on Wednesday.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chinese giant won its first game a day earlier but it proved futile as Sydney and Urawa secured the top two spots in Group H with one match to spare.

Sydney reach the last 16 for the first time alongside Urawa, while Chinese domestic champion Evergrande is left licking its wounds after its earliest exit from the competition.