It's only half-time - Lippi
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 28, 2013
Marcello Lippi remained cautious over Guangzhou Evergrande's bid to hand China a first continental title in 23 years despite claiming a 2-2 draw in Saturday's AFC Champions League final first leg against Korean counterparts FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Brazilian striker Elkeson and China international Gao Lin scored in each half as Guangzhou claimed two away goals to take back to Tianhe Stadium for the second leg on November 9 as the domestic champions seek to follow in the footsteps of 1990 Asian Club Championship winners Liaoning.
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Guangzhou Evergrande's Zheng Zhi tackled Sergio Escudero in the first leg of AFC Champions League final. |
But with Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic equalising for FC Seoul with seven minutes remaining after Sergio Escudero had handed FC Seoul an early lead in front of a lively 55,501 crowd in the Korean capital, Lippi knows there is still a long way to go as the Italian World Cup-winner seeks to add to the 1996 UEFA Champions League title won with Juventus.
"(The two away goals) are a very important factor for us, but there's still another 90 minutes to play. It is an advantage, but we still have to play the second match," said Lippi.
"It's not that I'm satisfied or not, but it's a good result to go into the final game with. There's another game and that will determine the result."
Despite failing to make full use of home advantage FC Seoul, who are the fifth consecutive Korean side to appear in the final, extended their unbeaten record against Chinese sides in the AFC Champions League this season.
And having drawn their last two away games in the competition in Saudi Arabia and Iran, coach Choi Yong-soo is confident FC Seoul are still in contention to keep the AFC Champions League title in Korean hands for a fourth time in five years.
"We always prepare to win but we drew our home game. But we have an opportunity to win the game in the second leg; we're never going to give up so we can do it," said Choi.
"All the away games are very difficult, especially when there is a big crowd in the stadium. It's always difficult. But our players are very experienced in those kind of situations and we have had a lot of experience in this tournament in this season.
"We have never lost to a Chinese team and we hope to win again in China."
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