Diamanti fires brace as Guangzhou whip Melbourne
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 27, 2014
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Guangzhou Evergrande battled from two goals down to defeat Melbourne Victory at home. |
Reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande showed their class in a stunning second half performance as Marcello Lippi's side came back from two goals down to hand Melbourne Victory a 4-2 defeat in their opening Group G encounter at Tianhe Stadium on Wednesday evening.
"Tonight was a difficult game," said the Italian World Cup-winning coach. "My team was not 100 percent prepared. Last season finished late, so we had an off-season for a month and we started back late.
"Our opponents are in the middle of their league season and in good shape. We were behind their performance in the first half and they deserved to lead 2-0. But in the second half we found our tempo to control the game. Most importantly, our players showed a strong desire to win."
The Chinese Super League champions began as the strongly-favoured side, but the hosts were made to sweat in the opening half, trailing by two goals before the break. Defender Pablo Contreras latched onto a clearance to open the scoring on 36 minutes for Kevin Muscat's visitors before Leigh Broxham doubled the lead with a powerful volley five minutes later.
The second half, though, belonged to Guangzhou, with the defending champions demonstrating their trademark fightback spirit. Diamanti was the instigator of their first goal, his smart pass ending up with Huang Bowen reducing the deficit with a volley on the stoke of an hour. The former Bologna captain went on to draw his side level with a thunderbolt. Elkeson would put Guangzhou ahead on 71 minutes, before Diamanti rounded off the comeback triumph five minutes from time.
The result saw Guangzhou move top of Group G alongside Jeonbuk Motors, who fired three unanswered second-half goals past visiting Yokohama F. Marinos.
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