By Nazvi Careem

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 26 (Reuters) Gamba Osaka's hopes of becoming the first Japanese side to reach the AFC Champions League playoffs suffered a setback when they lost 2-0 at Chinese champions Dalian Shide in Group E today.

Dalian have nine points from four matches, the same as South Korea's Chonbuk Motors, who beat Vietnamese side Da Nang 1-0 away. However, the Chinese team top the group because of their 1-0 victory over the Koreans in March.

Since the revamped AFC Champions League was launched in 2003, no Japanese team has got past the group stages.

Gamba are third, three points behind Dalian and Chonbuk, with only the top team from each of the seven groups advancing.

The other Japanese team, Tokyo Verdy, trail Korea's Ulsan in Group F by three points after the first match in their two-team group.

On a rain-soaked pitch in Dalian, the home side went ahead after 18 minutes through Zou Jie before Zhang Yaokun headed Dalian's second three minutes into the second half.

The victory avenged Dalian's 3-0 defeat by Gamba two weeks ago.

In Vietnam, Brazilian Ze Carlo scored the only goal as Chonbuk struggled against a team who had conceded 20 goals in their previous three matches.

In Group B, Uzbekistan's Mash'al defeated visiting Saudi side Al Hilal 2-1 to enhance their qualification hopes.

Botir Karaev and Zafar Kholmurudov scored after the break in Karshi but the home side were reduced to nine men as defenders Jahongir Jiyamuradov and Komoliddin Kenjayev were sent off late in the game.

Abdullah Jumaan scored an injury-time penalty for Al Hilal but their two-man advantage came too late for a comeback.

Champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia will join the competition at the quarter-final stage.

REUTERS PDS HT2208