Korean World Cup star striker Ahn Jung-hwan scored his first two goals for Shimizu S-Pulse as the Japanese side romped to a 7-0 win over New Radiant of the Maldives in the US$3 million AFC Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Ahn, who signed for the 1999/2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup champions last month on a one-year contract, sparked the rout with the opening goal after 42 minutes in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Zone Two (East) second round encounter at the Nihondaira Stadium in Shimizu City.
Ahn's strike settled the J.League side and the floodgates opened in the second half as Shimizu added six goals. Brazilian forward Baron netted a brace before Ahn further repaid some of the Japanese club's investment in him by scoring his second of the match just before the hour mark.
Alessandro Santos, the Brazilan-born Japanese international better known to fans as Alex, then got in on the scoring act himself with a pair of goals before a last minute own goal sealed New Radiant's fate.
While Shimizu are overwhelming favourites to win the tie and advance to a third round meeting against either South China of Hong Kong or Singapore's Home United, they gave the Maldives side plenty of respect in the opening half as they probed to find a way around their defence.
However, fatigue and the cool conditions took their toll on New Radiant after the break and a change in the Shimizu formation which saw Alex playing behind the forward line of Baron and Ahn helped to break the tie wide open.
It was also a good night for Korean FA Cup champions Taejon Citizen, who scored a 5-1 win over hosts Monte Carlo of Macau on their Champions League debut.
오늘은 역시 한국 FA cup 우승팀인 대전 시티즌에게도 승리의 날이었다. 대전 시티즌은 챔피언스 리그 첫 출전 경기에서 마카오의 몬테카를로에 5-1로 승리했다.
The visitors proved far too strong for the home team as they raced to a 4-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. Lee Chang-yup (left) opened the scoring after eight minutes and Han Jung-kuk added a second on 14 minutes before Gong Oh-kyun notched a pair to all but settle the tie.
전반 20분까지 원정팀인 대전은 경기를 4-0으로 리드하며 그들이 홈팀보다 매우 강팀임을 증명했다. 이창엽(사진)은 8분만에 선취골을 터트렸고 한정국은 전반 14분에 두번째 골을 넣었다. 공오균은 2골을 넣어 승리를 확정지었다.
A.K. Manuel pulled a goal back for Monte Carlo late in the first half but Choi Eun-sung notched Taejon뭩 fifth late in the game to give the Korean side a big advantage to take into the second leg in two weeks' time.
전반이 끝나갈 즈음 A.K.Manuel이 한점을 만회했으나 최은성이 경기가 끝날 무렵 다섯번째 골을 넣어 2주 뒤에 열릴 다음 경기에 한국팀은 큰 이점을 갖게 되었다.
Osotspa of Thailand got a good result in Jakarta with a 1-0 away win over Indonesian side Persita Tangerang.
The Thai team had observed their opponents in action during last month뭩 Brunei Invitational Cup and they used that knowledge to good effect by keeping Persita dangerman Ilham Jayakesuma effectively shackled. Osotspa striker Jaihan Kittisak뭩 51st minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.
"We realised their strength on the wings so we prepared ourselves to counter them in that area," said Osotspa coach Chutchai Pholapad.
"We were also missing five of our best players tonight because of the Asian Games, so we are confident of also winning the second leg in Bangkok with those players back in the team," he added.
Maldives side Valencia also put themselves into a good position for a spot in the third round as they came from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw against India's Mohun Bagan in Calcutta.
Sunil Chettri's first half goal and George Ekeh's strike five minute after the break had put the Indian side into a commanding position at the Salt Lake Stadium.
However, Bagan's decision to field four players (including star striker Baichung Bhuttia) who have just returned from representing India at the Asian Games backfired as Valencia grabbed two goals in eight minutes through Mohammed Nizam and Ali Ashfaq to level the match.
It sets up an intriguing return leg in Male on October 23 with Mohun Bagan likely needing an away victory to ensure their passage to the third round.
The AFC Champions League, which was launched in August, replaces the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup and the Asian Super Cup. The winning team will take home a first prize of US$500,000.
Four qualifiers from East Asia and four from the West will join eight seeded teams in the group stage in March.
* Views expressed in the news articles are not necessarily official views of the Asian Football Confederation.
from http://www.footballasia.com
Ahn, who signed for the 1999/2000 Asian Cup Winners' Cup champions last month on a one-year contract, sparked the rout with the opening goal after 42 minutes in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Zone Two (East) second round encounter at the Nihondaira Stadium in Shimizu City.
Ahn's strike settled the J.League side and the floodgates opened in the second half as Shimizu added six goals. Brazilian forward Baron netted a brace before Ahn further repaid some of the Japanese club's investment in him by scoring his second of the match just before the hour mark.
Alessandro Santos, the Brazilan-born Japanese international better known to fans as Alex, then got in on the scoring act himself with a pair of goals before a last minute own goal sealed New Radiant's fate.
While Shimizu are overwhelming favourites to win the tie and advance to a third round meeting against either South China of Hong Kong or Singapore's Home United, they gave the Maldives side plenty of respect in the opening half as they probed to find a way around their defence.
However, fatigue and the cool conditions took their toll on New Radiant after the break and a change in the Shimizu formation which saw Alex playing behind the forward line of Baron and Ahn helped to break the tie wide open.
It was also a good night for Korean FA Cup champions Taejon Citizen, who scored a 5-1 win over hosts Monte Carlo of Macau on their Champions League debut.
오늘은 역시 한국 FA cup 우승팀인 대전 시티즌에게도 승리의 날이었다. 대전 시티즌은 챔피언스 리그 첫 출전 경기에서 마카오의 몬테카를로에 5-1로 승리했다.
The visitors proved far too strong for the home team as they raced to a 4-0 lead in the first 20 minutes. Lee Chang-yup (left) opened the scoring after eight minutes and Han Jung-kuk added a second on 14 minutes before Gong Oh-kyun notched a pair to all but settle the tie.
전반 20분까지 원정팀인 대전은 경기를 4-0으로 리드하며 그들이 홈팀보다 매우 강팀임을 증명했다. 이창엽(사진)은 8분만에 선취골을 터트렸고 한정국은 전반 14분에 두번째 골을 넣었다. 공오균은 2골을 넣어 승리를 확정지었다.
A.K. Manuel pulled a goal back for Monte Carlo late in the first half but Choi Eun-sung notched Taejon뭩 fifth late in the game to give the Korean side a big advantage to take into the second leg in two weeks' time.
전반이 끝나갈 즈음 A.K.Manuel이 한점을 만회했으나 최은성이 경기가 끝날 무렵 다섯번째 골을 넣어 2주 뒤에 열릴 다음 경기에 한국팀은 큰 이점을 갖게 되었다.
Osotspa of Thailand got a good result in Jakarta with a 1-0 away win over Indonesian side Persita Tangerang.
The Thai team had observed their opponents in action during last month뭩 Brunei Invitational Cup and they used that knowledge to good effect by keeping Persita dangerman Ilham Jayakesuma effectively shackled. Osotspa striker Jaihan Kittisak뭩 51st minute goal proved to be the difference between the two sides.
"We realised their strength on the wings so we prepared ourselves to counter them in that area," said Osotspa coach Chutchai Pholapad.
"We were also missing five of our best players tonight because of the Asian Games, so we are confident of also winning the second leg in Bangkok with those players back in the team," he added.
Maldives side Valencia also put themselves into a good position for a spot in the third round as they came from two goals down to force a 2-2 draw against India's Mohun Bagan in Calcutta.
Sunil Chettri's first half goal and George Ekeh's strike five minute after the break had put the Indian side into a commanding position at the Salt Lake Stadium.
However, Bagan's decision to field four players (including star striker Baichung Bhuttia) who have just returned from representing India at the Asian Games backfired as Valencia grabbed two goals in eight minutes through Mohammed Nizam and Ali Ashfaq to level the match.
It sets up an intriguing return leg in Male on October 23 with Mohun Bagan likely needing an away victory to ensure their passage to the third round.
The AFC Champions League, which was launched in August, replaces the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup and the Asian Super Cup. The winning team will take home a first prize of US$500,000.
Four qualifiers from East Asia and four from the West will join eight seeded teams in the group stage in March.
* Views expressed in the news articles are not necessarily official views of the Asian Football Confederation.
from http://www.footballasia.com
