Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kashiwa: Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande and J.League counterparts Kashiwa Reysol kept their bid to qualify for the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League intact on Wednesday when the teams played out a scoreless draw at Hitachi Stadium.
The draw moved both clubs onto four points as Group H reached the halfway point and the two teams will meet again at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium in two weeks' time as the Group Stage of the 2012 edition of the continental championship approaches its climax.
Guangzhou had the better of the exchanges throughout the 90 minutes and, as a result, Kashiwa coach Nelsinho (Nelson Baptista Junior) was more than happy to take the point secured by his side.
"Even though the game was scoreless, I'm satisfied with the result because Guangzhou are a good team," said the Brazilian.
"I certainly don't see this as two points dropped but rather I think both teams should see it as a point won and I think we still have a chance to go through to the next stage.
"I think it was a very competitive game today and I thought the Guangzhou team was impressive, especially at the start of the game because we couldn't get possession of the ball."
Guangzhou pressed hard in the opening exchanges, with both Muriqui (Luiz Guilherme da Conceicao Silva)and Sun Xiang sending efforts over the bar inside the first 10 minutes as Kashiwa struggled to handle the pace and passing of the visitors.
It took until the 24th minute for Jorge Wagner (Jorge Wagner Goes Conceicao) to produce Reysol's first serious attempt on goal, the Brazilian shooting well wide at full stretch, while long-range efforts from Dario Conca and Leandro Domingues (Leandro Domingues Barbosa) did little to worry either teams' goalkeeper.
Gao Lin and Cleo (Cleverson Gabriel Cordova) both saw their attempts to score deflected wide by a diligent and well-organised Kashiwa defence after the turnaround while Reysol could have taken all three points with just nine minutes remaining, but substitute striker Ricardo Lobo steered his sliding effort wide after Jorge Wagner's low cross curled invitingly behind the Guangzhou defence.
"I'm satisfied with the way the players played today," said Lee. "Their motivation was good and our match strategy worked well.
"Both sets of players were working hard today and I'm satisfied with how my players did today and the game was going quite well. However, the aim was to get three points."
Photo: WSG