ACL MD2 - GROUP F: GUANGZHOU R&F 1-2 BURIRAM UNITED
Guangzhou: A spectacular overhead kick from striker Gilberto Macena gave Buriram United a last minute winner over Guangzhou R&F as the Thai champions defeated their Chinese hosts 2-1 to go top of Group F on Tuesday.
Lu Lin had put the home side in front in the southern Chinese city after 26 minutes but Korea Republic midfielder Ko Seul-ki was on target two minutes before the break to tie the scores.
With both sides having won on Matchday One, it looked likely they would continue to share top spot into the third Matchday, but Brazilian Gilberto Macena’s dramatic intervention at the death ensured it is Buriram who lead the group with two consecutive victories.
Both sides made encouraging starts to the contest at a damp Yuexiu Stadium, but it was the home side who took the lead as Lin raced onto Michel’s long ball forward from midfield to apply a crucial acrobatic touch to divert the ball past Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
Buriram came close to an equaliser two minutes before half-time, but goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo stood up strong at his near post to beat away Diogo’s drive from inside the area.
But from the resulting corner the visitors did level the scores as Ko’s near post header from Theerathon Bunmathan’s set-piece gave Liu no chance to react and the sides went into the halftime break level.
Just after the hour mark substitute Zhang Shuo had a glorious chance to put Guangzhou back in front as he was sent through on goal by Michel’s deft pass but Siawarak was quick to close the forward down and blocked his close-range effort.
The remainder of the tie saw a series of end-to-end attacks from both sides, but the final pass or composure on the shot was lacking from both teams as the game looked to be petering out.
However, in the 89th minute of the tie, Diogo’s header bounced up inside the penalty area for countryman Gilberto Macena and the Brazilian launched himself into a spectacular overhead kick that looped over Liu’s despairing dive for a dramatic and stunning winner for the visitors.
With Korea Republic’s Seongnam FC defeating Japanese treble winners Gamba Osaka 2-0 in the group’s earlier game, Buriram will now enjoy a three point cushion over their rivals ahead of the Matchday Three fixtures in a fortnight’s time.
ACL MD2 - GROUP A: BUNYODKOR 0-1 PERSEPOLIS
Tashkent: A first-half Mohammad Noori penalty was enough to give Persepolis a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Bunyodkor in Tashkent on Tuesday and maintain their 100 percent record at the top of Group A in the AFC Champions League.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half when captain Noori converted from the spot after striker Mehdi Taremi was fouled to claim his second in two games after his side’s impressive 3-0 win against Qatari champions Lekhwiya last week.
And despite the second half being dominated by the Uzbek side, Persepolis were able to hold on to make it two wins from two while Bunyodkor now have just a solitary point from two games after their 1-1 draw with Saudi champions Al Nassr in Matchday One.
Bunyodkor had the better of the opening stages but created little by way of clear-cut chances, with a speculative effort by midfielder Samir Bekric from 25 yards that went harmlessly wide the closest they came.
Persepolis had their first chance of note on the 15-minute mark, when Brazilian midfielder Fernando’s powerful left-foot drive fizzed just over from fully 35 yards.
And the visitors then went ahead in the 20th minute when Noori calmly tucked away a penalty to goalkeeper Akbar Turaev’s right after Taremi was upended by defender Artyom Filiposyan in the box.
The Uzbeks continued to have the better of the possession and should have equalised just after the half-hour mark when forward Eldor Shomurodov diverted Dostonbek Khamdamov’s cross wide from just a few yards out and it was the away side who went in at the interval with a slender 1-0 advantage.
The home side started the second period the brighter and almost equalised in the 53rd minute when substitute Vokhid Shodiev’s close-range header from a corner was fortuitously parried over via goalkeeper Sousha Makani’s head.
Just before the hour, Bunyodkor went close again when midfielder Chaker Zouaghi played a beautiful through-ball to Bekric, but his left-foot strike from eight yards was pushed wide by the Persepolis custodian.
The game was being played almost entirely in the visitors’ half but Bunyodkor could not find a way through, with a 40-yard effort from midfielder Sardor Rashidov that was easily gathered by Makani on 70 minutes showing just how desperate they were becoming.
With just two minutes left on the clock, Filiposyan’s right-foot strike from 35 yards went narrowly over and Persepolis held out to secure an impressive victory.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário