Guangzhou Evergrande eye final after crushing Kashiwa Reysol
Coach Marcello Lippi remains cautious but his side hold a 4-1 advantage for the semi-final return leg in the AFC Champions League
Guangzhou Evergrande put themselves within touching distance of the AFC Champions League final last night, handing Kashiwa Reysol a 4-1 thrashing thanks to an irresistible second-half performance, but coach Marcello Lippi refused to consider his team's mission accomplished with next week's second leg remaining.
Lippi's team look set to become the first Chinese side to reach the deciding game of the continental championship since Dalian Wanda lost on penalties to Pohang Steelers in the final of the Asian Club Championship in Hong Kong in 1998. Only a disaster at Tianhe Stadium next week will see Guangzhou fall short.
Two goals from Muriqui - his 10th and 11th in the tournament in 11 games so far this season - as well as a thunderous strike from Dario Conca and an own goal by Kim Chang-soo cancelled out a 10th minute header by former Guangzhou forward Cleo.
But despite holding such a substantial lead - which features four precious away goals for Guangzhou and which could have been more as Muriqui also hit the post - World Cup and Uefa Champions League winning coach Lippi remained cautious ahead of next Wednesday's return meeting.
"We suffered early in the game as we gave away the goal to Reysol on a free kick," said the Italian. "We won our confidence back as the game wore on, and started showing what we can do around the time when Muriqui hit the post in the first half.
"After that our team found the pace of the game, played well and scored four goals in the second half. That shows our capability. Reysol played fast but I think we were the better side.