Phil Moss' team -- who were hoping to gain a berth in the group stages of the competition won last year by A-League rivals Western Sydney Wanderers -- were completely outplayed by the crisp passing game of their Chinese Super League rivals in Gosford.
Goals in either half by forward Jiang Ning and midfielder Lu Lin followed by a bizarre late own goal by defender Joshua Rose ensured that Mariners disappointing season continued. Midfielder Glen Trifiro pulled one back in injury time through a neatly placed free-kick into the far corner.
After finishing third in the A-League in 2014, the Mariners are currently third-last this season.
With Australia having won the Asian Cup last month and Western Sydney being the defending champions of the elite continental club competiton, Mariners harboured hopes of becoming the third A-League side to reach the group stages of the competition this season after Western Sydney and Brisbane Roar had secured automatic qualification.
However, Guangzhou upset their hosts plans by putting together an imperious midfield performance to secure their maiden entry in the group stages of the competition which was won by their city rivals, Marcelo Lippi's Guanzhou Evergrande, in 2013. Cosmin Contra's team also took their chances in a thoroughly professional display and rarely broke sweat.
Guangzhou forward and former China international Jiang Ning put the visitors ahead in the eighth minute by unleashing a thunderous right-footer past Mariners' custodian Liam Reddy. His strike partner, Morocco international Abderrazzaq Hamedallah, cleverly allowed a cross from the right to run through to Jiang who made no mistake.
Guangzhou dominated the first half with their Spain U21 and former Valencia midfielder Michel Herrero pulling the strings with a virtuoso performance. Only a good save from Reddy from Hamedallah in the 30th minute prevented a second goal before half-time. A few minutes later the Moroccan's brilliant solo run having held off multiple Mariners' defenders ended with the forward narrowly missing having shot across the face of the goal.
Guangzhou duly doubled the advantage soon after restart though. Hamedallah and Ning combined again in the 57th minute and Ning played in the unmarked midfielder Lu Lin, who slotted home.
The Chinese side had no difficulty in defending the lead and one minute away from normal time were gifted with a third goal when Rose attempted a long back pass from outside the penalty box, unmindful of Reddy's positioning.
Trifiro's well-taken free-kick in the 92nd minute was a welcome consolation for the home fans but was a case of too little too late for the A-League side.
Guangzhou R&F became the fourth entrant to Group F of the AFC Champions League with J-League club Gamba Osaka, K-League team Seongnam FC and Thai Premier League winners Buriram United having secured automatic qualification.
Fellow Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan also qualified for the group stages defeating Thai Premier League side Bangkok Glass 3-0 at home in their third round play-off qualifier.
Midfielder Song Boxuan scored the opener in the seventh minute. Argentina born midfielder Pablo Batalla converted a spot kick in the 64th minute and scored his second of the evening seven minutes later to complete the tally. Gregario Manzano's side will lock horns with Brisbane Roar, Urawa Red Diamonds and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Group G of the competition.
2013 runners-up FC Seoul joined the year's winners Guangzhou Evergrande, defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers and Kashima Antlers in a mouth-watering Group H line-up. The K-league side routed Ha Noi T&T 7-0 in their third round play-off qualifier.
Thai Premier League runners up Chonburi FC forced their away third round play-off qualifier against J-League club Kashiwa Reysol to extra time after holding the Japanese side to a creditable 2-2 draw after regular time. However, with just four minutes of extra time remaining, Kashiwa Reysol's Brazilian striker Leandro da Silva broke the deadlock to put his team through to Group E at the expense of Jadet Meelarp's valiant side.
Brazilian striker Leandro Assumpcao and Thailand's Suzuki Cup winning midfielder Krirkrit Thaweekarn scored in either half for Chonburi as the Thai team equalised twice in regular time after goals from Kosuke Taketomi and Leandro da Silva had put Kashiwa Reysol ahead.
