Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: Coach Gregorio Manzano insisted that securing the win was the most important thing after his Beijing Guoan side defeated Suwon Samsung FC of Korea Republic 1-0 on Wednesday to make it two wins from two in Group G of the AFC Champions League.
A second half header by Montenegrin forward Dejan Damjanovic was enough to give the Chinese side the victory at Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium and maintain their 100 percent record at the top of the group.
Match report: Beijing Guoan 1-0 Suwon Samsung FC
“This was a very tough game; it was physical. Suwon had a very good first half, we couldn’t create many chances,” said Manzano, who is currently struggling with the fitness to several key players in his Beijing side.
“But in the second half we scored the crucial goal through Dejan. Sometimes you have to score from set pieces. Today we didn’t get the chance to play smoothly but what matters is the three points.
“Right now we are in the middle of a difficult period because we have so many injuries. My injured players (Chengdong Zhang, Boxuan Song and Ting Zhou) are in hospital. I hope they can recover soon.”
Beijing’s next AFC Champions League encounter is on 17 March at home to Urawa Reds, who prop up the group after suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Brisbane Roar in Wednesday’s other Group G match.
Opposite coach Seo Jung-won felt that Beijing Guoan keeper Yang Zhi was the main reason his side didn’t get a positive result to follow up their 2-1 victory at home to Urawa Reds in Matchday One last week.
“Beijing’s goalkeeper was the most impressive player to me. Yesterday I said Beijing’s style is like German football, but today I have changed my mind as most of their attacking was from the back half, by a long pass from their defenders to their forwards,” said Suwon coach Seo.
“I am very disappointed at the match. We had so many fans who travelled here to support us and I hoped to give them a good match but we failed.”
Suwon will be looking to bounce back in two weeks’ time when they travel to Australia to play Brisbane Roar who the group’s earlier game against Urawa Reds in Japan.
Photo: WSG