Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers agonisingly missed out on a place in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League despite goals from Mark Bridge and Tomi Juric securing a 2-0 win over Group H winners Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday.
Bridge took advantage of an error by Guangzhou’s Korea Republic centre-back Kim Young-gwon to net 12 minutes before half-time at a damp Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium before Juric’s stoppage time strike secured Western Sydney a second win of the campaign.
But with Korea Republic’s FC Seoul beating Kashima Antlers 3-2 in Japan courtesy of a stoppage time strike, Western Sydney were forced to settle for a third place finish.
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With torrential rain making playing conditions for both sides difficult chances were at a premium, but needing to win, Western Sydney went close as Nikita Rukavytsya was denied by Guangzhou goalkeeper Li Shuai at his near post.
Guangzhou had chances of their own, although Li Xuepeng and Zhang Jiaqi failed to test Western Sydney goalkeeper Ante Covic.
And 12 minutes before half-time, Western Sydney took the lead as Kim slipped while attempting to make a clearance on the edge of the penalty area and only managed to slice the ball towards goal and Bridge took full advantage by producing a composed finish low past a helpless Li.
Western Sydney went close to doubling their lead four minutes after half-time as Li had to be on his toes to push Iacopo La Rocca’s rising strike from outside of the penalty area over the crossbar.
Li was again called into action three minutes after the hour mark as the Guangzhou goalkeeper needed two hands to push a rasping angled strike from Romeo Castelen over the crossbar.
Guangzhou coach Fabio Cannavaro responded to Western Sydney’s dominance by introducing Brazilian duo Elkeson and Ricardo Goulart, but Elkeson was forced off 10 minutes later due to injury.
And Western Sydney made sure of the three points in stoppage time as Juric’s angled shot from inside the area skipped of the damp surface and squirmed under Li’s body.
But with Mauricio Molina having seconds earlier netted for FC Seoul in Japan, Western Sydney saw their season ended having finished ninth in the A-League.
Photo: WSG