Nanjing: Captain Wu Xi scored the winner as China’s Jiangsu FC held out to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group E of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
Brazilian Alex Teixeira put the home side in front shortly after the 15-minute mark at Olympic Sports Centre before substitute Lee Dong-gook equalised for the visitors shortly after the hour.
Jo and Wu then gave the Chinese side a two-goal cushion only for Kim Shin-wook to ensure a nervy finish before Ramires was dismissed for the home side in the closing stages as Dan Petrescu’s Jiangsu held out to claim their first win of the campaign.
“As head coach I'm very happy with this game,” said Petrescu. “In such an intensive match – it was so quick – my players did very well. We had great chances, including one that was offside. If we could have won 4-1 it would have been even better. Today we still have small issues with defence and I will work on it.
“It is too early to tell if this is the right style or tactic, this is just the first game. We need time. Today’s opponent was a strong one. They won Shandong twice last season.
“We have played against the champions of Vietnam, China and Korea in such short period. And like I said yesterday, we are still short of time and need it for team integration. Under these circumstances, my emphasis was on our fighting spirit.”
Jiangsu opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Teixeira cut in from the right past defender Lim Jong-eun before firing low into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.
Jeonbuk came back strongly, though, and almost equalised on 19 minutes when Go Moo-yul drilled wide from 15 yards after Jo only partially cleared Kim Bo-kyung’s free-kick from the left.
And the K-League side again came close as the half hour approached, but Lee Ju-yong’s left footed effort from distance went narrowly wide before Lee Jae-sung’s curler on the stroke of half-time sailed past the wrong side of the woodwork.
Jeonbuk had another chance on the hour when substitute Lee Dong-gook headed back to Go, whose bouncing volley was well parried to safety by goalkeeper Zhang Sipeng.
But when Lim headed Leonardo’s ensuing corner into a central position, Lee Dong-gook was on hand to turn home the equaliser.
But Jiangsu regained their advantage in the 66th minute when Brazilian Jo rose above Kim Hyung-il at the back post to accurately head Ren Hang’s cross from the left into the bottom right corner from 10 yards.
And the Chinese side then opened up a two goal lead in the 69th minute after Ramires bundled the ball through to Wu, whose effort on the turn from eight yards found the back of the net after goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae had blocked his initial attempt just seconds earlier.
Jeonbuk were not done yet, though, and pulled one back in the 86th minute when Kim Shin-wook’s header from Leonardo’s corner ensured a tense finish before Ramires saw red in stoppage time.
“I'm sorry that we lost,” said Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee. “We conceded first and the situation kept going down. It disturbed our whole plan. Our players are trying hard, but we are playing away and it is always difficult. In the second half we had chance to equalise but unfortunately at last we couldn't. I think we can win next time at home.
“I believe we have the ability to win with our team. Our plan was to try not to concede in the first half and attack in the second half. However we lost in the first 45. I don’t regret the plan though.”
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