Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Brazilian ace Robinho made his Guangzhou Evergrande debut on Thursday as China’s reigning champions defeated Bayern Munich on penalties in a friendly at the Tianhe Stadium.
Robinho, who signed for the 2013 AFC Champions League winners earlier this month, started the match for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side before making way at half-time for Wang Shangyuan.
Guangzhou went on to seal the win in Robinho’s absence, Feng Xiaoting firing home from the spot to seal a 5-4 penalty shootout success following a goalless 90 minutes.
The signing of Robinho, who has had spells with Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan, took the number of Brazilian players on Guangzhou’s books to six, with the 31-year-old’s arrival coming hot on the heels of the Chinese powerhouse’s capture of midfielder Paulinho in a GBP 9.9 million deal from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Robinho also joins compatriots Ricardo Goulart, who currently leads the 2015 ACL scoring charts with eight goals; Elkeson, an influential figure in Guangzhou’s 2013 continental triumph; former Red Bull Salzburg striker Alan; and midfielder Rene Junior.
Guangzhou will continue their quest for a second AFC Champions League title when they face Kashiwa in Japan in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on August 25 before the Southern Tigers host Kashiwa in the return fixture on September 15.
Photo: AFP