OSAKA: Title-holders Guangzhou Evergrande destroyed Diego Forlan’s Cerezo Osaka 5-1 as they moved towards their third straight AFC Champions League quarter-finals in ominous style on Tuesday.
A quickfire double from Elkeson, a stylish brace from fellow Brazilian Muriqui and a lone effort from Gao Lin meant Marcello Lippi’s team will have an easy task in next week’s home leg.
Guangzhou had not previously won away in this year’s competition and they were in danger of crashing out in the group stages before coming through in their final pool game.
But China’s very first AFC Champions League-winners roared back to title form as they took apart Cerezo, spearheaded by Uruguay star Forlan, in front of their own fans in Osaka.
Guangzhou have reached the quarter-finals in both their previous appearances and Cerezo will have to pull off one of the event’s great turnarounds to deny the Chinese league-leaders this year.
Earlier, Pohang Steelers came from behind to grab a precious 2-1 win against fellow former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the first leg of their all-Korean clash.
The visitors fell behind to Lee Jae-Sung’s header shortly after the break but they were quickly back on terms through Son Jun-Ho, before Go Moo-Yul fired the winner 16 minutes from time.
The victory gives Pohang, the 2009 winners, the advantage ahead of next week’s return against Jeonbuk, who lifted the trophy in 2006 and again reached the final in 2011.
Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan continued his fine form in the tournament as he helped Al Ain beat Al Jazira 2-1 in Abu Dhabi while Al Ittihad edged Al Shabab 1-0 in a battle of Saudi giants. AFP
Read more: Guangzhou wreak havoc on Osaka - Soccer - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/soccer/guangzhou-wreak-havoc-on-osaka-1.590264?cache=03%2F7.206949%2F7.276681%2F7.490557%2F7.490557%2F7.490557#ixzz319sLuyDq
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