Hernan Barcos scored twice yesterday to lead Shanghai Shenhua to a 4-1 win over 10-man Armed Forces in the Asian Champions League but another Chinese side Tianjin Teda suffered a 0-1 reverse away to Kawasaki Frontale in Japan.

Shanghai Shenhua forward Hernan Barcos (top) and Singapore Armed Forces midfielder John Wilkinson duel for the ball during their Group G Asian Champions League match at the Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai last night. Argentine Barcos scored twice in Shenhua's 4-1 win. [Shanghai Daily]

Argentine Barcos scored from the penalty spot in the 25th minute to give Shenhua a 1-0 lead in Shanghai after defender Hafiz Osman had handled the ball in the area and was sent off.

John Wilkinson equalized for the Singaporean club after he beat an offside trap in the 64th.

Yu Tao restored Shenhua's lead from six meters out after a corner, and Yin Xifu blasted in a 25-meter shot in the 84th before Barcos scored his second goal with a header.

The win put Shenhua equal top of Group G after the opening round of matches, level with South Korea's Suwon Bluewings, which beat Japanese champions Kashima Antlers by an identical 4-1 scoreline.

In Suwon, the Bluewings scored twice in the late stages of the first half to take the ascendancy.

Kashima's defense was slow to clear a ball and Chinese international Li Weifeng pounced on a well-struck shot to put Suwon ahead in the 44th.

Before the halftime whistle went, the Bluewings doubled their advantage as Hong Soon-hak crossed from the left and the Brazilian forward Edu hit a volley at the back post.

The Koreans had to wait until late in the second half to make sure of the three points, as Hong finished off some neat approach work to get on the scoresheet in the 81st, and Park Byun-hem made it 4-0 in stoppage time.

Kashima's Marquinhos notched a consolation goal in the dying stages.

In Kawasaki, Renatinho scored the lone goal to lead Frontale to a 1-0 win over Tianjin in their opening Group H clash.

The Brazilian forward put Kawasaki ahead 16 minutes into the match when he rose up to head in a cross from compatriot Vitor Junior.

Tianjin had several good scoring chances after the break but wasn't able to beat Kawasaki goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

The win put Kawasaki top of the group after the opening round of games, and Tianjin at the bottom. Australia's Central Coast and South Korea's Pohang Steelers drew 0-0 in the other group fixture yesterday.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily March 12, 2009)