Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: It was a goal-laden affair at Jinan Olympic Sports Centre as China’s Shandong Luneng and Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol shared a rollercoaster 4-4 draw in an action-packed AFC Champions League Group E clash on Wednesday evening.
Six goals were scored in the first half with Wang Yongpo’s fourth minute opener for the hosts preceding a five goal salvo over a stunning 14-minute spell with Leandro, Masato Kudo and then Cristiano putting Kashiwa 3-1 up before South Americans Junior Urso and Walter Montillo restored parity for Shandong before the interval.
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Yang Xu’s spot-kick on 49 minutes gave Shandong back the lead but Cristiano’s second in the 75th minute ensured that both teams would take a share of the points.
With Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong salvaging a dramatic late draw with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic, Kashiwa remain in joint first place with Shandong a further four points behind with two matches remaining.
Although Shandong had seen consecutive defeats ahead of the meeting with Kashiwa in Jinan, they began proceedings in explosive fashion, taking the lead inside the first four minutes as Argentinian playmaker Montillo’s clipped pass into the right hand side of the penalty area found Wang Yongpo who slotted the ball through the legs of Kashiwa goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno.
Kashiwa were quick to recover from the shock of going behind early, though, as on 22 minutes Brazilian striker Leandro forced his way into the penalty area and battled past defender Wang Qiang before prodding the ball home from close range.
And just seven minutes later, the visitors were in front with Leandro again involved, this time turning provider, as he chipped a sumptuous through ball to Kudo who finished with aplomb.
Things got even better for Kashiwa shortly after on the 32nd minute as they made it 3-1. Cristiano cut in from the left flank into the area and clipped the ball past goalkeeper Wang Dalei with the assistance of the far post.
But despite going two goals behind, Shandong reduced the deficit two minutes later as Montillo’s inch-perfect cross from the left touchline found Junior Urso lurking on the penalty spot and the Brazilian midfielder directed a powerful header past Sugeno.
And the topsy-turvy nature of the first half was completed eight minutes before halftime as Kashiwa were penalised for a back pass and Shandong took full advantage. Wang Yongpo laid the indirect free-kick off to Montillo and he rifled the ball into the roof of the net past the massed ranks on the Kashiwa goal line.
The interval only delayed the goal-mouth action, too, as Kashiwa defender Kim Chang-soo conceded a penalty just four minutes after the restart which allowed Yang to coolly convert from the spot for his fourth goal of the competition and put Shandong 4-3 up on the night.
With both sides continuing to attack with abandon the only surprise was that the sole addition to the scoreline came 15 minutes from time as Cristiano notched his brace and Kashiwa’s equaliser with a free-kick that Wang Dalei badly fumbled on his goal-line as the game had its eighth and final goal.
Photo: WSG