Shandong beats Osaka, Seoul rallies in Beijing
Print Edition
Vagner Love outshone Cerezo Osaka’s star recruit Diego Forlan with two goals in a stunning 3-1 win as China’s Shandong Luneng went top of its group in the AFC Champions League yesterday.
After his fellow Brazilian Aloisio had headed Shandong into a fifth-minute lead at the Osaka Nagai Stadium, Love struck with a pair of exquisite finishes.
The 29-year-old, who inspired CSKA Moscow to victory in the 2005 UEFA Cup, swivelled and shot past goalkeeper Kim Jin-hyeon from the edge of the box in the 26th minute and netted a similar goal 11 minutes into the second half to put the visitors firmly in control.
Cerezo gave Uruguayan international striker Forlan his first start in the competition but the only response it could muster was a goal by substitute Yoichiro Kakitani six minutes from time. With the win, Shandong avenged a 0-4 defeat that it had suffered at the same ground to Cerezo in the 2011 tournament and moved to the top of Group E on goal difference.
It was joined on four points by Korean double-winners Pohang Steelers, which beat Buriram United 2-1 in Thailand thanks to first-half goals by Kim Tae-soo and Kim Seung-dae.
Kim Tae-soo gave the visitors the lead when his 19th-minute strike was deflected in by David Rochela, and Kim Seung-dae extended its advantage five minutes later after he had been sent clear by Kim Dae-ho’s excellent through-ball.
The Thai Premier League champion pulled a goal back with 21 minutes left when Adisak Kraisorn’s header was fumbled into the net by goalkeeper Shin Hwa-yong, but Pohang held on despite intense pressure in the closing minutes.
In Group F, Korean side FC Seoul stayed top after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Beijing Guo’an.
Nigerian forward Peter Utaka gave the Chinese club a 20th minute lead but Go Yo-han came off the bench to fire home the equalizer in the 71st minute.
Go could have given the 2013 AFC Champions League runner-up a second win in a row when he was sent clear in stoppage time but he was crudely cut down outside the Beijing box by goalkeeper Yang Zhi, who received a red card for his cynical challenge.
FC Seoul moved up to four points, one ahead of Australia’s Central Coast Mariners, which bounced back from a 0-2 defeat to the Korean side two week ago with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Japanese champion Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The visitors went ahead in the 21st minute when Tsukasa Shiotani’s header bounced over South Korean Kim Seung-yong, who was guarding the far post.
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