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Chinese sides enjoyed contrasting fortunes in the AFC Champions League on Wednesday as Shandong Luneng hammered Arema Indonesia 5-0 but Tianjin Teda surrendered their unbeaten record in Melbourne.
Deng Zhuoxiang and Brazilian forward Obina were on target for Shandong in the first-half before the floodgates opened after the break, when Han Peng, Mozhapa Murehemaitijiang and Wang Yongpo all found the mark.
The emphatic result moved the Chinese Super League side provisionally top of Group G and atoned for Shandong's disappointing 1-1 away draw with Arema this month which dented the Chinese side's hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
Shandong are now one point ahead of 2006 champions Jeonbuk Motors and Cerezo Osaka, who are playing in Jeonju.
In Group E, table-toppers Tianjin -- who had won twice and drawn once before Wednesday's action -- went a goal up against Melbourne Victory on 37 minutes when Chen Tao found the net after dispossessing home skipper Kevin Muscat.
But the Australians turned the match on its head with two goals in two minutes. Carlos Hernandez drew Melbourne level when goalkeeper Zhao Yanming failed to deal with his curling free-kick on 44 minutes.
And on the stroke of half-time, Muscat made up for his earlier error by firing home from the penalty spot after Yang Cao was adjudged to have fouled Robbie Kruse in the box.
In a niggly match with several melees and nine yellow cards, Victory defender Surat Sukha was sent off for a second yellow card with less than 10 minutes left, but Melbourne held on for a vital win.
Gamba Osaka face Jeju United in the same group.
Among the West Asian matches, Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad and Iranian side Sepahan put their 100 percent records on the line against Al Wahda and Al Gharafa respectively.
Thirty-two teams play home and away in eight groups to qualify for the knock-out stages starting in May. |
