Paulinho strikes to give Guangzhou Evergrande AFC Champions League advantage
Brazilian scores 15 minutes from time as the China side beat Japan’s Kashima Antlers 1-0 in the first leg of last-16 tie
Paulinho’s late strike put Guangzhou Evergrande in the driving seat as they beat Kashima Antlers 1-0 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League round-of-16 clash on Tuesday night.
The ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder struck on 75 minutes to reward heavy pressure from Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Evergrande, who lifted the Asian title in 2013 and 2015.
It was all the Chinese champions deserved against an unambitious Kashima team, who nevertheless will have hopes of overturning the deficit at home in next week’s second leg.
Watch: Guangzhou Evergrande v Kashima Antlers highlights
At Thailand’s Thunderdome Stadium, Yu Kobayashi’s stunning volley was the highlight as Kawasaki Frontale struck three times in the second half to convincingly beat Muangthong United 3-1.
Kengo Nakamura scored on 66 minutes to cancel out Teerasil Dangda’s first-half opener, before Kobayashi cracked home his instinctive volley with the outside of his right boot on 69 minutes.