Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Parramatta: A hat-trick from Ricardo Goulart saw former AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande edge out defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 in Group H at Parramatta Stadium on Wednesday.
Brazil international Goulart, a close season signing from Cruzeiro, had opened the scoring for the visitors on 19 minutes only for Iacopo La Rocca to restore parity just before the hour mark.
Western Sydney barely had time to celebrate the goal, though, as Goulart netted his second a minute after the hosts’ equaliser before adding his and Guangzhou’s third on the 64th minute.
Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng then suffered a sickening head injury that resulted in a lengthy delay to the game, with 17 minutes of time additional time added in which Romeo Castelen reduced the deficit for Western Sydney, but it was not enough to deny Guangzhou a second consecutive win and top spot in Group H.
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The tie in Parramatta began in open fashion with the hosts creating the first chance after just four minutes as Nicholas Kalmar sprayed a pass from right to left and Nikita Rukavytsya powered an effort on goal that Zeng did well to save at his near post to turn the ball over the crossbar.
With such attacking abandon shown by both teams in the early phases, the game did not have to wait long for it’s opening goal and on 19 minutes Mei Fang’s deep cross from the right wing was headed back across goal by Elkeson where Huang Bowen prodded the ball further on for Goulart, whose shot took a deflection of Nikolai Topor-Stanley on its way across Ante Covic and into the corner.
And the Brazilian nearly doubled both his and Guangzhou’s tally soon after as he cushioned a pass from Elkeson on his chest just inside the penalty area before flicking it up and then rifling a volley towards goal that Covic did well to push over.
Western Sydney did create chances in the final minutes of the first half though, and with three minutes remaining, Topor-Stanley had a glorious chance to equalise as he rose highest to nod on Rukavytsya’s inswinging corner but the ball flew inches wide of the far post.
But on 57 minutes Western Sydney drew the level as La Rocca leapt to reach Rukavytsya’s corner to angle a superb header towards the far post that clipped off the upright and into the net.
Guangzhou, though, hit back immediately as Gao Lin raced down the right flank and drilled the ball into the area for Goulart to beat Covic at his near post.
And only six minutes later, a third came from the same combination as Gao surged down the left side and crossed to Goulart, and although Spiranovic managed to get a foot to the ball, the defender could only turn it into the path of the Brazilian who slotted home to complete his hat-trick.
Western Sydney did have the ball in the net four minutes later but the assistant referee’s flag ruled out Spiranovic’s header for offside, although more worrying for Guangzhou was the head injury suffered by goalkeeper Zeng in a collision with team-mate Kim Young-gwon in the preceding free-kick with the custodian stretchered off the field after a lengthy delay.
With 17 minutes of injury time given as a result of the treatment needed for Zeng, Western Sydney had a chance to salvage the tie and on the 96th minute they did pull one back through second half substitute Castelan who was found unmarked from Rukavytsya’s right-wing cross and the Dutchman directed his header past replacement goalkeeper Li Shuai.
Photo: WSG