Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Brazilian Ricardo Goulart scored twice to take his AFC Champions League tally to six goals in three games as Guangzhou Evergrande maintained their Group H 100% record with Wednesday's 4-3 win over Japan’s Kashima Antlers.
Compatriot Elkeson and crucial substitute Zhao Xuri were also on target for the 2013 champions at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium as Guangzhou moved five points clear of defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers and FC Seoul at the top of the table.
Guangzhou getting great value from Goulart says gleeful gaffer Cannavaro
Kashima were in front just before the hour mark after Hiroyuki Takasaki and Shoma Doi struck either side of half-time to cancel out Goulart’s early strike, but Gaku Shibasaki’s stoppage -ime header wasn’t enough to stop the J.League side suffering a third defeat of the campaign after Zhao had netted in the first minute of added time at the end of the second half for the home side.
Riding a four-game winning streak in all competitions ahead of kick-off, Guangzhou made a confident start and took the lead after just 10 minutes as Goulart raced towards the front post to meet Huang Bowen’s flighted free-kick from the corner of the penalty area and the Brazilian directed a looping header over Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata and into the far corner.
Guangzhou continued to dominate with Goulart and Elkeson in the thick of the action for the home side, but after coming into the contest towards the end of the first half, Takasaki was on hand to bundle home the equaliser from close range nine minutes before half-time after goalkeeper Li Shuai could only claw Doi’s close range glancing effort back out towards the onrushing striker to convert from close range.
And having finished the opening 45 minutes on top, Kashima came out strongly after the break and Yasushi Endo flashed a first-time effort just past Li’s post five minutes into the second half before the lively midfielder was denied by the Guangzhou goalkeeper soon after.
Li, though, was beaten eight minutes before the hour mark as the Guangzhou custodian could only push Endo’s dipping strike from the edge of the penalty area back out and Doi stooped to head home with the goalkeeper unable to recover.
But Kashima were ahead for just six minutes as Elkeson’s downward header from Huang’s free-kick evaded goalkeeper Sogahata.
And four minutes later the Kashima defence backed off a charging Goulart and the Brazilian fired low across Sogahata from just outside the penalty area having picked the ball up 40 yards out.
Kashima remained in the contest as the half progressed, but as the tie entered stoppage time, substitute Zhao beat the offside trap before coolly beating an exposed Sogahata.
The goal, though, proved crucial as Kashima captain Shibasaki headed home from close range with virtually the last touch of a thrilling contest.
Photo: WSG