It was a great day for Chinese football as both Shenzhen Jianlibao and Shandong Luneng won their opening AFC Champions League matches with 1-0 victories at home to Jubilo Iwata and away to Yokohama F-Marinos on Wednesday.

After dominating their Japanese opponents in the first half of Wednesday's Group E match at the Shenzhen Stadium, China international striker Li Yi scored Jianlibao's winner eleven minutes after the restart when he outjumped the Jubilo defence to head former Bayi player Lu Bofei corner (Shenzhen's eighth of the match) into the roof of the net.

Close-season signing Zheng Zhi played his part in Shandong's goal against reigning J-League champions Yokohama before being sent off for a second bookable offence with just over ten minutes to play. The former Shenzhen midfielder whipped in a corner for Gao Yao to find the net in the 68th minute of the Group F clash which saw seven Shandong players pick up yellow cards. 

Photo source:sina.com

(Sinosoc.com March 10, 2005)