Beijing Guoan on course for knockout stage of AFC Champions League
Capital side defeat Urawa but Guangzhou R&F lose to Seongnam
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Beijing Guoan left it late in their 2-0 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds as Gregorio Manzano's side moved closer to the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League on an otherwise disappointing night for Chinese Super League sides.
Argentinian midfielder Pablo Batalla broke the deadlock with 12 minutes left at Beijing's Workers Stadium on Tuesday night before setting up Yu Dabao to make sure of a third consecutive win for last year's Super League runners-up six minutes later.
With joint second place duo Brisbane Roar and Suwon Samsung meeting in Australia on Wednesday, Beijing find themselves at least temporarily with a six-point lead at the top of group G and on course for a return to the last 16 for a first time since 2013.
It was not an easy game. Urawa were very aggressive because they lost all their previous matches, but I have to say this match was the best from my team so far in the season
"It was not an easy game. Urawa were very aggressive because they lost all their previous matches, but I have to say this match was the best from my team so far in the season," said Beijing's Spanish coach Manzano.
Guangzhou R&F lost 1-0 at home to South Korea's Seongnam FC, while FA Cup holders Shandong Luneng went down 2-1 in Japan to Kashiwa Reysol.
Striker Hwang Ui-jo scored the only goal in the first half as former champions Seongnam recorded a second consecutive win to leave Guangzhou R&F third in group F with table-topping Buriram United, from Thailand, facing Japan's Gamba Osaka on Wednesday.
Guangzhou Evergrande, though, have a chance to lift Chinese hopes as the group H leaders entertain Japan's Kashima Antlers on Wednesday night.
Fabio Cannavaro's side are unbeaten, having defeated last year's semi-finalists FC Seoul and holders Western Sydney Wanderers and are facing a Kashima side who have yet to pick up a point this season.
"This is a very important match for us," said World Cup winner Cannavaro.
"We defeated Western Sydney and Seoul already, so in this game we hope to continue the winning journey."
We defeated Western Sydney and Seoul already, so in this game we hope to continue the winning journey
Meanwhile, two goals in the space of eight minutes in the first half enabled Kitchee to defeat Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia 2-0 in the AFC Cup at Mongkok Stadium.
Juan Belencoso and Jorge Tarres gave Kitchee a deserved win and maximum points. Victory against the Malaysian Super League champions also pushed Kitchee to the top of group F.
Kitchee are bidding to go one better than their semi-final finish in last year's competition.
