Striker Xie Hui netted a hat-trick as China Super League side Shanghai Shenhua took a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 3-1 victory over Dong Tam Long An of Vietnam on Wednesday.

Xie put his side in control with a pair of early goals after eight and 11 minutes, and the 31-year-old duly completed his hat-trick six minutes after the break.

The victory for the home side, who finished runners-up to Dalian Shide in the China Super League last year, was soured by the dismissal of recently-signed China international defender Li Weifeng in the 65th minute, and Brazilian striker Antonio gave Dong Tam some hope of rescuing the tie when he pulled a goal back for the Vietnamese side.

The disqualification of Indonesia's Persebaya Surabaya and Thailand's Provincial Electricity Authority from this year's AFC Champions League means that Shenhua and Dong Tam are the only teams competing in Group G. The two sides will meet in Vietnam on May 3 to decide the final outcome of the group.

Source: Xinhua