Guangzhou Evergrande lose, Shandong Luneng tie in AFC Champions League
Xinhua, April 5, 2016 Adjust font size:
Defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande of China has slim hope to advance to the last 16 of AFC Champions League (ACL), after a 1-0 away defeat by Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in their Group H game on Tuesday.
After a goalless first half, Paulinho of Evergrande hit the post and missed the golden opportunity to take the lead in the beginning of second half, while Yuki Muto scored the winning goal in the 52nd minute for Red Diamonds with a header.
Guangzhou failed to stage effective attacks for an equalizer while the home players posed constant threats in the remaining minutes.
After the fourth round, Guangzhou remain as the tailender of the group with two points, while Sydney FC and Urawa Red Diamonds are the top two with nine and seven points respectively as Sydney FC beat Pohang Steelers 1-0 at home in the other match of the group.
In Group F, another Chinese club Shandong Luneng tied leaders FC Seoul 0-0 on the road thanks to their tough defense.
Shandong stay second with 7 points, one more than third-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan, which defeated Buriram United FC of Thailand 2-0 on the road. Endi