Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Guiyang: Two goals in two minutes late in the game secured Guizhou Renhe their first-ever AFC Champions League victory with a 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday that keeps the Chinese Super League side’s slim hopes of progressing from Group H alive.
Mitchell Duke gave the Mariners the lead from the penalty spot two minutes from the end of the first half but goals from Zlatan Muslimovic and substitute Qu Bo in the final six minutes sealed the three points for Gong Lei’s side.
Victory moves Guizhou on to four points, one ahead of Suwon Bluewings and level with the Mariners while Kashiwa Reysol lead Group H with 10 points from the opening four matches.
“It was a very tough but entertaining game,” said Li Chun Man, Guizhou’s assistant coach. “Our players didn't give up when we were behind in the first half, and in the second half when more attacking was needed, we adjusted our tactics in time and finally won the game.
“This is our first AFC Champions League win, and besides that, the way we came back means a lot to us. We are now feeling more confident for the two remaining games. I believe we can go further in the competition.”
Graham Arnold brought a weakened side to China due to his team’s participation in the A-League playoffs with Melbourne Victory on Sunday, leaving key players such as Daniel McBreen, Michael McGlinchey and Mile Sterjovski back in Australia.
It did the Mariners little harm in the early stages, even if Guizhou had the better of the first half, with China international winger Yu Hai causing the visitors problems and twice pulling saves out of goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Yu’s first effort came with just 12 minutes gone with Ryan claiming comfortably before the goalkeeper was called into action again in the 26th minute, this time to deny Zhang Chenglin.
A minute later, Yu was on target again, and once more Ryan was on hand to deny the former Schalke 04 man, pushing the ball wide for a corner.
With time running down in the half, however, the tide turned against Guizhou when Rong Weihui pushed Mitchell Duke in the back in the penalty area and referee Mohammad Abdulla Hassan pointed to the spot.
Duke made no mistake, squeezing the ball under Zhang Lie as the goalkeeper guessed the right way, but could not keep out the low shot.
Matters took a worse turn in the 57th minute when Gong Lei was sent off for voicing his dissatisfaction with the performance of referee Hassan while, eight minutes later, Sun Jihai missed a golden chance to level the scores, pushing his left foot shot wide with the goal at his mercy.
With time running out on Guizhou’s maiden AFC Champions League campaign, Muslimovic hared down the left before cutting in and lashing a right foot shot that Ryan could do little about to level the scores in the 84th minute.
A minute later Guizhou went in front for the first time in the game when Zvjezdan Misimovic’s shot from the edge of the area came back off the upright and Qu reacted first to thump the ball home from a tight angle.
“I don't think there is a big gap between two teams,” said Arnold. “We were almost at the same level for the first 80 minutes. It was our physical decline at the end that gave our opponent chances. Nevertheless, I don't think this game showed our full attacking abilities.
“I am still optimistic about our qualification possibilities. If we have all our main players together, we are quite strong. There is still a home game waiting for us and I think we will qualify.”
Photo: WSG