Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: Shandong Luneng kept alive their hopes of a place in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 with a 3-1 Group E win over Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong on Wednesday that assures the Chinese Super League side remain in contention for the knockout stages until at least the final matchday.
Despite their elimination from the competition at the hands of Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors a fortnight ago, Binh Duong began brightly and took the lead on 20 minutes through Nguyen Tron Hoang.
Stunned into life, Shandong roared back and Yang Xu headed home the equaliser on the 27th minute before goals after the hour mark from Junior Urso and Yang again gave the scoreline an accurate reflection of their dominance.
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Although Binh Duong faded in the second period, they were on top for the opening spell and Shandong defender Dai Lin almost inadvertently put the visitors ahead inside 10 minutes after he miskicked a cross towards his own net needing Wang Dalei to bat the ball over.
Wang was called into action shortly after too, this time keeping out Michal Nguyen’s powerful header from Trin Quang Vinh’s cross with an athletic save.
But the China goalkeeper could do little to prevent Binh Duong’s opener.
Errors from both Dai Lin and then Li Songyi saw the ball break to Nguyen Trong Hoang inside the penalty area, and the striker needed no second invitation to slot the ball through the legs of Wang on 20 minutes.
Yang Xu should have netted an immediate response but his effort from inside the six yard box was smothered by a brave stop from Binh Duong custodian Nguyen Quoc Thien Esele.
The visitors’ goalkeeper was called into action again on 26 minutes as Hao Junmin let fly from the edge of the penalty area only to see Esele hurl himself low to his left and prevent the ball crossing the line.
Just a minute later, though, Shandong found their leveller. Brazil international Diego Tardelli curled in an inviting cross from the right that Yang buried past Esele with a bullet header.
After the interval, the Chinese Super League side looked intent on taking control of the match and just after the hour mark they went in front through their Brazilian duo.
Tardelli’s pass across goal looked to be over-hit but found compatriot Junior Urso making a late run at the far post and he sent the ball goalwards past the beaten Esele, and defender Au Van Hoan was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
And Shandong’s advantage was stretched to two goals just eight minutes later as Yang Xu netted his sixth goal of the AFC Champions League campaign from close-range with the ball ricocheting off both Esele and defender Pham Minh Duc before finding the net.
Winger Liu Bin Bin could have put the result beyond doubt with 16 minutes remaining but after beating the offside trap and moving in on goal, the Shandong wideman could only steer his shot narrowly wide of Esele’s far post.
In stoppage time, in almost a carbon-copy of the earlier move, Tardelli went through himself with Binh Duong’s defence again sprung but this time Esele was able to turn the Brazilian’s shot wide.
But with the referee’s final whistle blowing shortly after, Shandong can now look forward to a winner-take-all showdown with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a fortnight's time in what should be a thrilling finale to the group.
Photo: WSG