We saw several interesting results on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League with Group F & H playing their third round fixtures. Let’s take a look at how the games panned out:
GROUP F:
Shanghai SIPG 3-2 Urawa Red Diamonds [Shi Ke 10’ Elkeson 45+1’ Hulk 52’ – Silva 73’ Endo 84’]
The top two teams in Group F put on a spectacle in Shanghai as the home team claimed a nervous 3-2 win over Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
Andre-Vilas Boas’ side began the game in terrific fashion and scored the opener in the 10th minute. Shi Ke reacted brilliantly to turn a clearance from a Urawa defender home with his head. Just before the half ended, Brazilian striker Elkeson doubled Shanghai’s advantage after capitalising on a poor clearance from the goalkeeper who had raced out of his area to do so. Elkeson’s well placed low effort from 40 yards beat the goalkeeper who was rightly embarrassed.
Seven minutes after the break, star forward Hulk scored a third goal after typically powering past three defenders and slotting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs. But Urawa found their mojo soon after and pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute when they were awarded a penalty for a pull on Rafael Silva who converted the spot kick with ease. The cat was firmly among the pigeons in the 84th minute when bundled the ball home following a scramble.
But Shanghai held their nerve to hold on and keep their perfect record intact in Group F.
FC Seoul 2-3 Western Sydney Wanderers [Il-Lok 66’ 72’ – Scott 24’ Antonis 40’ Sotirio 63’]
In a battle between two teams yet to notch a point, it was A-League outfit Western Sydney Wanderers who triumphed after a nervous ending in Seoul on Wednesday.
The Australian side hit the ground running and took the lead in the 24th minute through Lachlan Scott got on the end of a through ball from Terry Antonis and lifted a finish over the goalkeeper. Antonis himself scored the second goal after Wanderers were awarded a penalty in the 40th minute and looked well on their way to an easy win when Jaushua Sotirio lobbed the Seoul goalkeeper after being played through by Mitch Nichols just past the hour mark.
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But they faced an immediate backlash from the home team. Three minutes later, Yun Il-Lok received a pass on the left side of the box and drove a high finish in from an acute angle. The left-winger would go on to add another in the 72nd minute after finding the bottom corner with an accurate finish from 20 yards.
Though the goal set up a frantic finish to the game, Wanderers held on to go third in Group F with three points while FC Seoul are rock bottom with zero points.
GROUP H:
Gamba Osaka 0-1 Jiangsu Suning [Ramires 39’]
A stunning strike from former Chelsea midfielder Ramires kept Jiangsu Suning’s perfect record in Group H unblemished after a 1-0 defeat away to Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.
Though Yasuyuki Konno hit the post after an attempted volley for Gamba, it was Jiangsu Suning who scored the opening goal in the 39th minute. Ramires latched onto a ball from 20 yards and curled a sumptuous left-footed strike past the Gamba goalkeeper.
WATCH: Ramires nets Jiangsu stunner
But the hosts were not able to muster a proper response and fell to their second defeat in the group while Jiangsu Suning extended their lead atop the table.
Adelaide United 3-3 Jeju United [Diawara 51’ Cirio 73’ Ochieng 85’ – Mendy 61’ Toscano 71’ Soon-Hyung 84’]
A-League outfit Adelaide United grabbed their first point in the tournament after a pulsating 3-3 draw with Korea’s Jeju United at home on Wednesday.
After a barren first half, the game exploded into action in the second half which witnessed six goals. Adelaide took the lead in the 51st minute through a penalty scored by Papa Diawara before Frederic Mendy hit back for Jeju with a shot on the turn that went in off the post. The visitors would go on to take the lead in the 71st minute when striker Marcelo Toscano found the top corner with a brilliant strike from 20 yards.
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But Adelaide hit back two minutes later, thanks to Sergio Cirio who headed in a cross from the left. Jeju United nudged ahead again in the 84th minute when Kwon Soon-Hyung’s low piledriver from 20 yards ruffled the back of the net. Alas, there was still drama as Adelaide restored parity instantaneously. Mark Ochieng curled a finish into the far corner from just inside the area to ensure Adelaide opened their account in Group H.