RIYADH: Steve Holland said his Yokohama F-Marinos side were ready to take on Saudi Arabia`s stars in the Asian Champions League after qualifying for the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Helped by Anderson Lopes` double, Yokohama beat Shanghai Port 4-1 in the second leg of their last 16tie tocruise to a5-1aggregate win and book their place in the competition`s final tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi teams have spent big in bringing in international names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and they have dominated the AFC Champions League Elite west zone so far this season.

But Holland said Yokohama had reason to be confident after finishing as runners-uplast season and are ready to test themselves against the best of the west.

`Can we beat the teams from the west? That remains to be seen but I think the team is going in a good direction, said Holland, whose previous job was assistant to Gareth Southgate with England.

`They have belief and confidence and also because of their disappointment last season, they will be very motivated. Let`s see.

The Champions League becomes a mini-tournament from the quarter-finals onwards, with all games being played over 11 days in Jeddah.

East and west teams play each other for the first time in the competition.

Also progressing from the east zone on Tuesday were BuriramUnited,whodefeatedJohor Darul Ta`zim.

The Thai League 1 champions advanced at the Malaysians` expense when Suphanat Mueanta scored the only goal in Johor to earn Osmar Loss` team a 1-0 win on the night and overall.

Yokohama led Shanghai 1-0 from the first leg in China and they put themselves further in front with two goals in the opening half hour of the return fixture.

Daiya Tono extended Marinos` overall advantage with less than two minutes on the clock when he crashed a left-foot shot past Yan Junling and Lopes doubled the lead in the 29th minute with a dinked finish.

Shanghai gave themselves a chance when Brazilian Leonardo turned home a flickon from captain Li Ang to pullone back only for Yan Matheus to restore the Japanese side`s two-goal cushion.

Lopes hit his second goal 10 minutes after the break after Kodjo Aziangbe had thumped the post.

It was the top-scoring Brazilian`s ninth goal of the competition.

On Monday, Ronaldo was on target as Saudi Arabia`s Al-Nassr beat Iran`s Esteghlal 3-0 to progress to the quarterfinals while Qatar`s Al-Sadd beat Al-Wasl 4-2 on aggregate.

Ronaldo, who has yet to win a trophy for Al-Nassr since signing for the Riyadh club in December 2022, missed the 0-0 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 tie in Tehran last week.

After 26 minutes in the return match, the 40-year-old scored his seventh goal of thetournament, converting a penalty after Sadio Mane was fouled in the area.

Earlier, Jhon Duran opened the scoring with a lob from the corner of the area.

Esteghlal were reduced to 10 men just before the break when Mehran Ahmadi was issued a second yellow card.

Al-Nassr, seeking a first Asian championship, added a third late in the game after Duran fired home a low shot for his second.

Al-Sadd progressed as a result of an 11-minute spell just before the half hour against Al-Wasl that saw the Qataris score three times to overturn Fabio Lima`s early opener.

The visitors, held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dubai one week earlier, took 10thminute lead through Lima.However, Al Sadd replied with goals from MostafaMeshaal, Youcef Atal and Akram Afif.-Agencies