Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Osaka: Defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande all but booked their place in the quarterfinals of the 2014 AFC Champions League on Tuesday evening as Marcello Lippi’s side handed Cerezo Osaka a 5-1 thrashing in the first leg of their Round of 16 encounter at Nagai Stadium.
The Chinese Super League side were back to their best as two goals each from Elkeson and Muriqui and one from Gao Lin put Guangzhou in total command ahead of the second leg at Tianhe Stadium in next Wednesday’s second leg.
Italy international Alessandro Diamanti was at the heart of everything positive for Guangzhou, who were rarely troubled by a Cerezo side that had little answer for the Chinese club’s attacking invention and verve.
It took Guangzhou 22 minutes to take the lead as Diamanti’s perfectly weighted through ball sent Muriqui clear through the centre of the Cerezo defence, and the Brazilian finished with the kind of composure that made him so instrumental in his side’s title winning season last year.
Eight minutes later, however, the J.League side pulled level when Uruguay World Cup star Diego Forlan cut the ball back to Ariajasuru Hasegawa and he slotted beyond Zeng Cheng.
But Elkeson restored Guangzhou’s lead just four minutes later from the penalty spot after Yuta Someya had taken the Brazilian down in thearea and, in the 37th minute, the former Botafogo striker doubled his side’s cushion when he glanced Diamanti’s free kick beyond Kim Jin-hyeon’s outstretched arm.
Cerezo sought to pull themselves back into the tie as the game resumed after halftime following the introduction of Takumi Minamino, but Guangzhou pushed to ensure the gap between the teams was extended further.
Gao Lin was introduced midway through the second half and the China international striker claimed Guangzhou’s fourth in the 78th minute when he slotted the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs after another rapid break featuring Diamanti and Muriqui.
And, with six minutes remaining, Muriqui scored his second of the evening – and only his second of the campaign so far – when he steered the ball over the line with his chest despite being at full stretch to reach Gao Lin’s ball into the area.