Guangzhou win to secure last 16 berth
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 23, 2014
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Feng Xiaoting (left) of Guangzhou Evergrande is airborne as he vies for the ball with a Yokohama F Marinos player during their AFC Champions League match in Guangzhou yesterday. Guangzhou advanced into the last 16. — Xinhua |
Reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande advanced to the AFC Champions League knockout stage as group winner after beating Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 in their final group game yesterday.
Two first half goals by a rejuvenated Elkeson undid the Emperor's Cup holders, who miss out on a place in the next phase of the competition as Guangzhou are joined in the last 16 by Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, which survived a late penalty shout to draw 0-0 with Melbourne Victory and escape an ultra-tight Group G on goal difference.
Earlier in Group H, Western Sydney Wanderers beat Guizhou Renhe 5-0, the biggest win by an Australian club in the competition, to reach the knockouts on its tournament debut.
And Japan's Kawasaki Frontale also progressed when it was 3-1 winner at home against Ulsan Hyundai, the 2012 champion which paid the price for losing its last three games.
On a tense evening at Guangzhou's Tianhe Sport Center stadium, Elkeson took just 11 minutes to settle the nerves when he nodded the defending champion in front.
Marcello Lippi's side doubled its lead seven minutes from half time as Elkeson latched on to Muriqui's through ball to lift his effort over the keeper and Yuzo Kobayashi was unable to steer the Brazilian's effort to safety.
Marinos pressed hard in the opening minutes of the second half, with Shunsuke Nakamura calling Zeng Cheng into action with a 53rd minute free kick, but as the half wore on Guangzhou looked the more likely to score.
Gao Lin should have claimed a third for his side when he was one-on-one with Marinos goalkeeper, only to see his attempt to lift the ball over the keeper bounce to safety beyond the post.
Seconds later Elkeson fired over the bar when Evergrande appeared certain to score but, with six minutes remaining, Manabu Saito struck for Marinos when he cut inside from the left before unleashing a fine curling effort that the goalkeeper had no hope of stopping.
However, rather than sparking a comeback for Marinos, the goal proved to be little more than a consolation as Guangzhou did enough to keep their defence of the title alive.
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