Trophy-holders Guangzhou Evergrande seized control of their AFC Champions League group with a 3-1 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Gao Lin struck twice in four first half minutes as the Chinese Super League champions notched up a comfortable win over former champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to move to the top of Group G on Tuesday evening.

Marcello Lippi was forced into a late change to his starting line-up as last season's top goal scorer and AFC Champions League Most Valuable Player, Brazilian forward Muriqui, was injured in the warm-up and he was replaced by Gao.

The 28-year-old made the most of his unexpected call-up, opening the scoring at the Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium after 18 minutes with a close-range finish before deftly heading his side 2-0 ahead two minutes later.

Jeonbuk, who have met Guangzhou in the group stage in each of the past three seasons, pulled a goal back before half-time through skipper Donggook, who pounced on the rebound after his own header hit the post. But the hosts restored their two-goal cushion just after the hour-mark when Liao Lisheng flicked home a cross by influential Italy midfielder Alessandro Diamanti to make it 3-1.

Elsewhere, Melbourne Victory secured their first win in Group G thanks to a ninth-minute goal from New Zealand striker Kosta Barabarouses which proved enough to upset Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0.

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