Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Substitute Shinzo Koroki struck with just over a minute remaining as Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds denied defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande a first win of this year’s AFC Champions League after snatching a 2-2 draw on Wednesday in Group H.
Brazilian Ricardo Goulart had opened the scoring from the penalty spot for Guangzhou after just six minutes at Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium before last season’s AFC Champions League top scorer and MVP crucially doubled Guangzhou’s lead eight minutes later.
But after an error from Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng allowed Yuki Muto to reduce the deficit before half-time, Koroki struck in the 89th minute to deny Guangzhou, who picked up just their second point from three games.
“This is a very entertaining game. Both sides created lots of chances, but the ability of converting them into goals needs to be enhanced. To be honest, our opponent has done quite well. Their counterattack is very aggressive and it has been a fair game. For us, we still have big room to improve,” said Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“After we won the 2013 ACL title, 2014 was already not easy. 2015 we won it again and we played at the FIFA Club World Cup which influenced our winter training. I have foreseen all this. Though at the moment we are experiencing some difficulties, I still have love and faith in my players. They are smart, and they work very hard. It was just tonight we made some mistakes.
“I don't think we were helpless tonight. I would say we need to work harder. A mature team should be balanced at attack and defence.”
Urawa, meanwhile, sit level on points with Pohang Steelers in a tie for second place after the K-League Classic side earlier lost 1-0 at home to Australia’s Sydney FC, with the A-League side now two points clear at the top of the table at the halfway stage.
Having failed to win their opening two games in Group H, Guangzhou made the ideal start as Goulart calmly rolled a sixth minute penalty down the middle after Urawa forward Zlatan Ljubijankic had tangled with Mei Fang as Huang Bowen’s right wing corner was swung into the penalty area.
And Guangzhou continued to push forward as midfielder Paulinho was denied by a flying save from Urawa goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa six minutes later.
But Nishikawa was beaten just two minutes later as Goulart swiveled inside the six yard area to turn Jackson Martinez’s cross into the back of the net.
Urawa, though, were handed a way back into the contest 15 minutes before half-time as Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng failed in an attempt to punch clear a deep back post corner, and after only managing to turn the ball towards the goal, an alert Muto was on hand to stab home from close range.
And as Urawa finished the first half on top, Zeng then had to be alert to dive full stretch to palm away Tomoaki Makino’s free-kick 10 minutes before half-time.
The contest continued at a fast pace at the start of the second half as Goulart and Zheng Long went close for Guangzhou before Muto was denied by Zeng for the visitors.
Goulart was then inches away from sealing the win with 10 minutes left as the Brazilian agonisingly dragged his angled effort across the face of goal.
But with just over a minute remaining Koroki rifled home from inside the area after Makino’s left wing cross had been nudged back towards the onrushing substitute close to the penalty spot.
“We haven't started well, but five minutes into the game and we suffered a penalty. Our players were a bit upset after that. In addition Guangzhou were pushing a lot,” said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic.
“But we managed to equalise by taking advantage of the mistake made by the Guangzhou goalkeeper. Before the game I told my players to be careful with set pieces and they tried their best and we equalised through a free-kick.
“This game was quite crucial to Guangzhou and I think their pressure must be overwhelming. After it was 2-1, we changed our tactics and our situation became stable. In the second half we played more aggressively and equalised again.
“We are in the group of death. There are three former champions in this group so it is too early to tell who could qualify.
“I am very satisfied that we came from behind twice today. We are playing away and one point is a good result.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports