Beijing Guoan cement spot in the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League
Draw in South Korea is enough to see them through, while Guangzhou Evergrande win isn't enough for defending champions
Montenegrin striker Dejan Damjanovic was on target as Beijing Guoan picked up the point required to join Guangzhou Evergrande in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League last night with a 1-1 draw against Suwon Bluewings.
Damjanovic, whose goals steered FC Seoul to the final in 2013 before his move to the Chinese Super League at the start of last year, netted 25 minutes into the game to give Beijing the ideal start to a game they had to avoid losing if they wantedto advance.
We can play better but getting to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League, especially by finishing first in the group, means that we have achieved the first step of our goal
Leo Itaperuna levelled just two minutes later and the draw ensured both teams advanced, with Beijing topping group G thanks to a better head-to-head record against the Koreans.
Finishing as winners of the group means Beijing will have the advantage of playing the second leg of their last-16 meeting at Workers’ Stadium.
“We are delighted to progress to the knockout stage,” said Guoan’s Spanish coach Gregorio Manzano. “We can play better but getting to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League, especially by finishing first in the group, means that we have achieved the first step of our goal.
The win, however, was not enough to keep the Australian team’s defence of the title alive as FC Seoul’s victory over Kashima Antlers in South Korea meant Choi Yong-soo’s side advanced at the expense of Tony Popovic’s team.
Goals from Mark Bridge and Tomi Juric gave Western Sydney all three points in Guangzhou but an injury-time winner in Seoul from Mauricio Molina took FC Seoul into the round of 16 in second place in the group.
Shandong Luneng, meanwhile, need to win against Jeonbuk Motors tonight to become the third Chinese Super League side to progress to the knockout phase.
Never before have three Chinese teams have neverreached the last 16 in the same season, but victory over the 2006 champions in South Korea will be enough for the Cuca-coached club to join Guangzhou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan in the draw in June.
It is not only good news for Beijing but good for Chinese football as a whole to have as many teams as possible in the latter stages
“Jeonbuk are a strong team and in a better position than us,” said the Brazilian, who won the Copa Libertadores with Atletico Minero in 2013. “They don’t have to win, they are at home, they have no injuries and are in first place in their league. Everything is in their favour.
“But we will give everything. We have to try to play the perfect game.
“Realistically, the chances of Jeonbuk going through are good but we will try our best. We are ready to give 100 per cent in order to win this game.”
