K League Classic team FC Seoul crushed Chinese Super League squad Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, 3-1, in the first leg of their quarterfinals encounter in the 2016 AFC Champions League held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in the South Korean capital city on Wednesday.

With the lopsided victory, Seoul forced Shandong to the brink of elimination as the China top flight squad must replicate the performance of their rivals from Korea in the second leg of their last-eight matchup next month.

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Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic scored the opening goal of the contest at the 19th minute with a header at the edge of the six-yard box off an assist from attacking partner Park Chu-young, who was inserted in the starting XI by head coach Hwang Sun-hong instead of Brazilian import Adriano, according to the South China Morning Post.

The report said that the 28-year-old Adriano was "dropped to the bench after a recent form slump despite 11 Champions League goals this campaign" and that Hwang's decision proved to be correct as Park doubled the lead at the 31st minute, with the pass this time coming from midfielder Cho Chan-ho.

The Chinese side was terribly outplayed in the first half, but still Argentine midfielder Walter Montillo managed to put his team on the board at the 35th to cut the deficit into one point entering the halftime break.

Adriano eventually subbed in for Cho right at the hour mark of the match and quickly made his presence known by scoring Seoul's third goal in the contest from 13 yards out off a "back-heeled pass" by Damjanovic, which sealed the win for the hosts, Daily Mail Online reported.

High-profile Italian striker Graziano Pellè had been lackluster for head coach Felix Magath's side as the former Southampton goalscorer failed to deliver any goals for Taishan Dui during the match.

Shandong midfielder Jin Jingdao's red card with nine minutes left before full time did not help the CSL squad's cause as they settled for the disappointing two-goal loss.

The second leg is scheduled at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium in China on Sep. 14.

TagsChina Football, AFC Champions League, 2016 AFC Champions League, FC Seoul, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC