Hulk starred with a goal and two assists in Shanghai's rout of Guangzhou, who struggled without their star man Paulinho after the midfielder's $A59.6 million sale to Barcelona last week.

After dominating the opening stages, Shanghai made the breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty after 36 minutes, Zhang Linpeng having brought down striker Wu Lei in the box.

Hulk stepped up and hammered home a low strike to give the hosts the lead and score in his seventh successive AFC Champions League appearance for SIPG.

Shanghai extended its lead moments before half-time and Hulk was again involved, captain Wang Shenchao nodding in at the back post from a superb right-wing cross delivered by the Brazilian.

A third goal duly arrived after 62 minutes as Shanghai showed its dominance, Wu running on to a cute back-heeled pass from substitute Elkeson to hit a whipped 20-yard shot out of goalkeeper Zeng Cheng's reach.

Shanghai's rout was completed just two minutes later, Hulk bursting clear after a Guangzhou corner was cleared to tee up Wu for a straightforward finish.

In the other quarter-final in Oman, visitor Al-Ahli took the lead in the second minute, Omar Al Soma volleying in the rebound after Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand could only parry Saleh Al-Jamaan's 20-yard strike.

Al-Ahli doubled its advantage 13 minutes into the second half, Leonardo da Silva racing on to a delicious Saleh Al-Jamaan throughball to finish well from close range.

But two goals in the last 18 minutes saw the host draw level, with Shoja Khalilzadeh scoring before Godwin Mensha lashed home from the edge of the box to leave the tie poised ahead of next month's second legs.