Guangzhou cruise into last 8 despite loss
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 14, 2014
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Guangzhou Evergrande's Alessandro Diamanti takes a shot at the goal during the AFC Champions League match against Cerezo Osaka yesterday. — Xinhua |
Guangzhou Evergrande booked their place in the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League for the third season in a row despite succumbing to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cerezo Osaka at Tianhe Stadium on Tuesday evening.
An own goal from Liao Lisheng in the 49th minute secured the win for Cerezo as Guangzhou lost at home for the second game in a row after a defeat against local rivals Guangzhou R&F in the Chinese Super League on Friday evening.
Guangzhou hardly needed to exert themselves after last week's impressive win, but Italian international Alessandro Diamanti nearly extended their advantage when he floated a shot against the bar. Zhao Xuri also cannoned the ball off the leg of Cerezo goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyeon when he slid onto a cross at point-blank range.
Guangzhou had an injury concern over Brazilian striker Muriqui, last year's tournament top scorer, who went off and was replaced by Gao Lin. Cerezo battled admirably despite the absence of star forward Diego Forlan, who had earlier been named in Uruguay's FIFA World Cup squad, and they could easily have gone ahead in the first half.
Jumpei Kusukami had a shot well saved by Guangzhou ‘keeper Zeng Cheng, while Tatsuya Yamashita fired over the bar from close range after a corner.
Four minutes into the second half, however, Cerezo took the lead. Guangzhou were slack in defence and, with Korea Republic defender KimYoung-gwon sleeping, Ryo Nagai sent over a low cross that Liao put into his own goal.
But there was little more to come from Cerezo, save an offside goal from Nagai in the final minutes, and a jubilant Tianhe stadium was soon able to celebrate another Asian quarterfinal spot.
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