Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Beijing: A brace for Pablo Batalla and a goal from Song Boxuan saw Beijing Guoan into the AFC Champions League group stage for a seventh appearance in eight seasons after a convincing 3-0 victory over Thai FA Cup winners Bangkok Glass in the final round of play-offs on Tuesday.
Midfielder Song opened the scoring after 17 minutes at Beijing Workers’ Stadium before Argentinian midfielder Batalla increased the lead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.
And Batalla got his second and Beijing’s third eight minutes later to put the game out of reach for Bangkok Glass as the Chinese Super League runners-up took their place in Group G alongside two-time Asian champions Suwon Samsung FC from Korea Republic, 2007 winners Urawa Reds, and Australia’s domestic champions Brisbane Roar.
Despite a typically noisy welcome that greeted the two sides as they entered the field in China’s capital, Thai FA Cup winners Bangkok Glass showed no early sides of nerves as the teams attacked from the start at a furious tempo in an exciting opening spell.
Forwards Lazarus Kaimbi and Tanasith Siripala threatened for the visitors and Montenegro international Dejan Damjanovic looked to find his range early on with the former FC Seoul striker steering a low shot narrowly wide after nine minutes.
Damjanovic, who scored twice over the two legs of the 2013 AFC Champions League final, was then denied by a fine save from Narit Taweekul, who palmed the ball around his upright.
From the resulting corner, though, the Bangkok Glass goalkeeper was only able to tip Zhang Chengdong’s near-post header backwards towards his far post where Song was lurking to slide the ball home for the opener on 17 minutes.
Although the game’s first goal put the hosts firmly on top, it was not until four minutes before halftime that Narit was seriously tested again as Batalla latched on to a cut-back from Zhang and saw his low shot smartly saved by the 31-year-old, diving low to his left.
Beijing went close again to doubling their lead soon after the break as Damjanovic was inches from meeting Zhang’s cross before seeing his fierce shot blocked by Narit.
But Beijing’s second was not long in coming as Song’s cross from the left was handled inside the penalty area by defender Praweenwat Boonyong and Batalla stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from the resulting spot-kick.
The victory for Beijing was all but assured on 72 minutes when, following a flowing move, second-half substitute Piao Cheng set Damjanovic through on goal. The striker was unfortunate to see his effort fly past Narit and hit the foot of the far post, but Batalla was on hand to tap home into an empty net.
Bangkok Glass tried gamely to find a late consolation but Beijing were able to see out the remaining minutes of the tie in relative comfort and Gregorio Manzano’s side will travel to Australia to face A-League champions Brisbane in Queensland next Tuesday
Photo: WSG