February 22 – Two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande are still without a victory in the 2018 AFC Champions League following a 0-0 draw with Cerezo Osaka in Group G on Wednesday.
The reigning Chinese Super League champions, who are coached by World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, repeatedly failed to break down a resolute Cerezo defence on the competition’s Matchday Two and were ultimately grateful to goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo who made a superb late save to deny Kenyu Sugimoto.
By way of contrast, Cerezo’s point was enough to take them to the top of the group, ahead of South Korea’s Jeju United who won 2-0 away at Buriram United. With two draws to their name, Guangzhou occupy third spot.
Elsewhere, Kashima Antlers assumed pole position in Group H, Mu Kanazaki’s brace helping the Japanese side beat second-placed Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2-1. Shanghai Shenhua remain third following a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC.
Tuesday’s games saw Alexandre Pato’s late strike rescue a fourth point of the campaign for Tianjin Quanjian away at Kashiwa Reysol, although they still trail Group E leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors who thumped Kitchee 6-0 in Hong Kong.
In Group F, Shanghai SIPG recorded their second win in as many games as a brace from former Chelsea star Oscar helped secure a 4-1 win over Australia’s Melbourne Victory. Second-placed Ulsan Hyundai beat Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in the group’s other fixture.
Meanwhile in West Asia, Argentine Ramon Diaz was sacked by Al Hilal following the Saudi Arabian club’s indifferent form in 2018, and a poor start to the competition they were runners-up in last season.
Last week’s draw at home against Al Ain was followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Iranian outfit Esteghlal on Tuesday, a result that left Al Hilal propping up Group D and former Paraguay head coach Diaz, who joined the club at the tail end of 2016, heading through the exit door.
The 58-year-old tactician had guided the continental powerhouse to a league and cup double in 2017.
Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli currently lead the way in Group A thanks to Mohannad Aseri’s 70th minute penalty in a narrow 2-1 win over Al Jazira, while the Qatari duo of Al Duhail and Al Sadd find themselves on top of Groups B and C respectively following their victories over Al Wahda and Persepolis.
AFC Champions League 2018: Matchday Two Results
Group A
Al Gharafa 3-0 Tractorsazi Tabriz
Al Ahli 2-1 Al Jazira
Group B
Zobahan 2-0 Lokomotiv
Al Wahda 2-3 Al Duhail
Group C
Nasaf 1-0 Al Wasl
Al Sadd 3-1 Persepolis
Group D
Al Ain 1-1 Al Rayyan
Esteghlal 1-0 Al Hilal
Group E
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Tianjin Quanjian
Kitchee 0-6 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Group F
Ulsan Hyundai 2-1 Kawasaki Frontale
Shanghai SIPG 4-1 Melbourne Victory
Group G
Buriram United 0-2 Jeju United
Cerezo Osaka 0-0 Guangzhou Evergrande
Group H
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-2 Kashima Antlers
Shanghai Shenhua 2-2 Sydney FC
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