Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jinan: Diego Tardelli scored for a third straight AFC Champions League outing and Jucilei and Zhao Mingjian were also on target as China’s Shandong Luneng maintained a perfect start to Group F with a 3-0 win over Thailand’s Buriram United on Tuesday.
Tardelli netted three minutes after the hour mark at Jinan Olympic Sport Centre having struck in Shandong’s play-off success over Australia’s Adelaide United as well as in last week’s 2-1 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan.
And with defenders Jucilei and Zhao netting inside the final 10 minutes, Shandong find themselves six points clear at the top of Group F after just two games alongside joint-leaders FC Seoul after the K-League Classic side earlier recorded a 4-1 win over Sanfrecce.
“We didn’t begin the match well, but because we won our very important ACL opener last week our players had strong faith in themselves. Once we scored the first goal, we controlled the game,” said Shandong coach Mano Menezes.
“Our team is growing and maturing, and this win is very important to us as it will benefit our confidence and unity.
“Teams that I coach usually don’t concede a lot. I like a reliable defence so I’m happy my players also showed that today.”
Shandong started brightly and recalled midfielder Wang Yongpo, who missed last week’s win over Sanfrecce due to injury, flashed a shot from inside the penalty area over the crossbar after 17 minutes.
And following a lengthy delay due to an injury to Buriram’s Brazilian forward Kaio, Tardelli was unlucky not to open the scoring 10 minutes later as his close range finish struck the leg of fortunate Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
Buriram, though, almost took the lead in spectacular fashion 15 minutes before half-time as Shandong goalkeeper Wang Dalei unconvincingly but successfully dealt with Kaio’s speculative shot from just inside the Buriram half.
But it was Shandong who looked the more likely to break the deadlock and the home side should have taken the lead just before the hour mark, but after breaking clear of the Buriram defence and bursting into the penalty area, Tardelli dragged his shot wide of the post with only goalkeeper Siwarak to beat.
But the 30-year-old made not mistake in the 63rd minute as he was on hand to stab home from the edge of the six yard area following a fortunate deflection.
And with 10 minutes remaining Shandong made sure of the win as Jucilei followed up after Yang Xu’s header from a corner had only been parried back out by Siwarak.
But there was still time for Zhao to net the goal of the afternoon in Shandong as the defender darted towards the edge of the penalty area and gave Siwarak no chance with a curling effort with the outside of his right foot which nestled perfectly into the opposite corner.
“Although we didn’t play too badly in the first half – and perhaps even had better control of it than Shandong – we had some serious problems in the second half,” said Buriram coach Alexandre Gama.
“After we suffered an injury to our forward we couldn’t control the midfield, and our opponents grabbed their chance, with the second goal effectively ending the game.”
Photo: Lagardère Sports