Chinese clubs frustrated in AFC Champions League

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2012-03-22

Cleo (9) of the Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande fights for the ball against players from Thai League champions Buriram United during their AFC Champions League soccer match in Guangzhou, March 21, 2012. [Photo/CFP]

GUANGZHOU - Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande suffered a 2-1 home loss against Thai League champions Buriram United in the AFC Champions League Wednesday night, leaving the group qualifying favor out of their own hands.

"We were in a very nice position after we won the game over Jeonbuk, but today we gave it up. We made some terrible mistakes, I want to say sorry to our fans," said Guangzhou's coach Lee Jang-Soo at the press conference after the match.

Bagging the vital 3 points on the road, Buriram United are leading the group comfortably by a margin of 3 points, following Kashiwa Reysol and Guangzhou Evergrande.

Winning a penalty and scoring a winner, Ghanaian winger Frank Acheampong had inspired the visiting team's victory. The 19-year old almost dismantled the right wing of the home side, despite missing three one-on-one chances.

Conca, Murriqui and Cleo, who combined 5 goals for Guangzhou in their first AFC Champions League match against Jeonbuk Hyundai, created little chances as they suffered unprecedented physical and miss-connection problems.

Cleo's equalizing header in the 68th minute preserved the hope for the home team, but their effort to overtake only left the opponents to celebrate victory after Acheampong scored in a counter-strike in the 79th minutes.

Conca (R) of Guangzhou Evergrande controls the ball during the team's 2-1 loss to Buriram United in their AFC Champions League soccer match in Guangzhou, March 21, 2012. [Photo/CFP]

"We are happy to win. We thought we could only score one before the match, but we got two," said Puspakom, Burriam United's coach.

"I ever thought Conca, Murriqui and Cleo were very sharp in attack, but after watching 10 minutes, I though I was wrong, I had overestimated them, who contributed nothing to the team," he added.

Guangzhou's defeat marked none of the three Chinese clubs got a single victory in the AFC Champions League this round.

Earlier in the afternoon, Chinese FA Cup winners Tianjin Teda earned a 1-1 draw with South Korean Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. Beijing Guoan picked up their first points after sharing a 1-1 draw with Australian Brisbane Roar on Tuesday.

All the three Chinese teams in the AFC Champions League are in third place after 2 matches played at their own group, a vulnerable position because only two of the four teams in a group could qualify for the knockout round.

"Losing today's match, we are now in a dangerous position. But it is not the clutch time yet, we still have 4 games to play. We will make good preparations," said Lee Jang-Soo.

Murriqui of Guangzhou Evergrande reacts after the team's 2-1 loss to Buriram United during their AFC Champions League soccer match in Guangzhou, March 21, 2012. [Photo/CFP]