Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Tianjin Quanjian eliminated fellow Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande from the 2018 AFC Champions League on Tuesday, progressing to the quarter-finals on away goals after a breathless 2-2 draw in their Round of 16 second leg tie at Tianhe Stadium.
Guangzhou started the brighter of the two teams, with Alan and Nemanja Gudelj both sending efforts narrowly wide early on before Ricardo Goulart gave the hosts the lead in the 17th minute, with the ball ricocheting home off the Brazilian after Tianjin goalkeeper Zhang Lu could only parry another Alan effort against his shin.
Tianjin didn’t take long to strike back though, with Paulo Sousa’s side level almost immediately as Alexandre Pato beat Zheng Zhi to an Axel Witsel cross from the left of the area to head home from close range in the 19th minute.
