Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Thu Dau Mot City: Senegalese forward Abass Cheikh Dieng scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to secure a deserved 1-1 draw for Becamex Binh Duong against Group E leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday at the Binh Duong Stadium.
The Vietnamese champions needed a victory against the 2006 winners to keep their slim hopes of qualifying for the Round of 16 alive but fell behind on the half-hour mark when Brazilian Eninho scored from a corner kick.
But the home side produced a spirited display in the second half and got their just rewards in the dying seconds when Dieng’s powerful shot from 20 yards flew past Hong Jung-nam in the Korean goal.
And despite scoring their first point of the group campaign after three successive defeats, the draw means that Binh Duong are now eliminated from the tournament ahead of their final two group matches with Shandong Luneng and Kashiwa Reysol playing out a lively 4-4 draw in the day’s other Group E encounter, while Jeonbuk top the group on goal difference from Kashiwa with eight points from four games.
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Nguyen hails Binh Duong's efforts against Jeonbuk
Binh Duong started well and had the first attempt on goal in the second minute but Moses Oloya’s powerful drive from 20 yards flew past goalkeeper Hong’s right post.
The K-League champions then took control of the game but despite dominating the possession their chances were limited to just a few shots from distance that failed to trouble Nguyen Quoc Thien Esele in the Binh Duong goal.
But the visitors then did take the lead after 28 minutes when Eninho’s inswinging corner from the left was misjudged by the custodian as it sailed over his head into the back of the net.
The Vietnamese side came out strongly in the second half and nearly equalised in the 54th minute when captain Nguyen Anh Duc lashed his shot against the bar from 20 yards.
Then as the hosts continued to apply the pressure Jeonbuk nearly scored against the run of play with 10 minutes remaining but substitute Kim Dong-chan fired against the angle from just inside the box after turning the defence inside out.
And the Koreans struck the woodwork once more two minutes later when Brazilian forward Edu also saw his effort rebound off the crossbar.
Nguyen Thanh Son’s side refused to give up, though, and again came close in the 90th minute when Nigerian forward Ganiyu Oseni played the ball to Oloya whose shot from distance was well saved by Hong.
But the hosts were not to be denied and just seconds before the fulltime whistle Dieng found space just outside the box before rifling the ball home from 20 yards, sparking jubilation on the home bench and sending the Vietnamese crowd into raptures.
Photo: WSG