So far, so good in new era for Guangzhou Evergrande
Brazilian Goulart heads home winner over FC Seoul to kick-start fresh campaign in the AFC Champions League
Guangzhou Evergrande's new era, with Fabio Cannavaro in charge, got off to the right start with Ricardo Goulart's first-half header enough for a 1-0 victory over FC Seoul in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday night.
Former Italy international defender Cannavaro, appointed head coach after Marcello Lippi took on the role of the club's technical director at the end of last season, saw his team's new signing score in the 31st minute to secure all three points in their first foray into the continental championship this year at Tianhe Stadium.
Games against strong opponents like Seoul are not easy. We managed to keep our focus in such a big game
"I'm satisfied with our performance," said Cannavaro. "Games against strong opponents like Seoul are not easy. We managed to keep our focus in such a big game.
"I hoped we would have scored more goals. We were not that good in the last 10 minutes, we should have played smarter to take advantage of Seoul's attacking to make some good counterattacks."
Goulart, signed from Brazilian side Cruziero during the close season, netted from close range after another new signing, Alan, glanced Huang Bowen's 31st-minute corner into his path.
The group H win was well deserved by a Guangzhou side that looked to have regained some of the verve and attacking flair that steered the club to the 2013 AFC Champions League title, when they defeated FC Seoul over two legs in the final.
"My team has done a good job, though I expected more. I hope they can do better."
Guangzhou's win completed a successful first round of matches in the 2015 edition of the continental club championship for Chinese sides, coming on the same day as Beijing Guoan handed Australia's Brisbane Roar a 1-0 defeat on the Gold Coast, despite playing the final hour of the game with 10 men.
"I want to congratulate our team for their wonderful fighting spirit," said Beijing's Spanish coach Gregorio Manzano. "Besides the terrific performance of [central defender] Zhao Hejing, our players fought to the end and especially they showed a spirit to win - it's something excellent."
Guangzhou R&F had picked up three points on their AFC Champions League debut on Tuesday evening against former champions Gamba Osaka while Shandong Luneng defeated Vietnam's Binh Duong.
