Guangzhou Evergrande captain Zheng Zhi tried to tackle Yusuke Kobayashi of Kashiwa Reysol in the game.

Brazilian Paulinho marked his AFC Champions League debut in spectacular style with a stunning first-half free-kick as former champions Guangzhou Evergrande took a huge step towards a return to the semi-finals after winning Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg against Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 in Japan. The Chinese Super League champions were handed the lead after just five minutes courtesy of an own goal from Kashiwa captain Daisuke Suzuki before mid-season signing Paulinho doubled the advantage before half-time with an eye-catching 40-yard set-piece.

Guangzhou, who beat Kashiwa 4-0 in their 2013 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg in Japan en route to claiming the continental title, added a third at the start of the second half through China striker Gao Lin.

Kashiwa striker Masato Kudo was able to pull a goal back inside the final minute, but Guangzhou will still take a substantial advantage into next month’s second leg.

Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was without Brazilian striker Elkeson although compatriot Paulinho was handed a first start in the competition, while Kashiwa were without injured duo Hidekazu Otani and Naoki Wako.

And Paulinho was quickly into the action in front of a vibrant capacity crowd at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium as Huang Bowen’s fifth minute free-kick from the left was headed into his own net by Suzuki as the Kashiwa captain looked to stop the delivery from reaching the Brazilian close to the penalty spot.

The visitors continued to dominate as the half progressed with Zhang Linpeng and Zheng Long flashing efforts off target for Guangzhou with Kashiwa struggling for a foothold in the game with the absence of experienced midfielder Otani and defender Wako being particularly felt by the home side.

And five minutes before half-time, with the home side having not registered a shot on target, Guangzhou doubled their lead as Paulinho’s vicious swerving free-kick spectacularly found the top corner from all of 40 yards with Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno rooted to the spot.

Kashiwa striker Cristiano was unable to match his compatriot’s effort 10 minutes into the second half as the Brazilian’s free-kick from just outside of the penalty area drifted wide, although it did signal an improved display from the home side at the start of the second 45 minutes.

But seven minutes before the hour mark Guangzhou added a third as Gao’s angled glancing header from Huang’s chipped left wing cross into the penalty area looped over Sugeno.

Cristiano and substitute Ederson threatened for Kashiwa inside the final 20 minutes but Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng remained largely untested.

But after Kosuke Taketomi saw a late header rebound off the crossbar, Zeng was beaten inside the last minute of normal time as Kudo converted from close range to give Kashiwa a glimmer of hope for the return meeting in three weeks' time.

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