By Michael Church
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Shandong Taishan moved to the top of Group G of the Asian Champions League on Wednesday as Brazilian striker Cryzan and former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini scored in the second half to secure a 2-0 win over hosts Incheon United.
Cryzan came off the bench in the 55th minute and broke the deadlock three minutes later with a strike from distance that bent into the top corner before Fellaini scored from close range to confirm the three points for the Chinese Super League side.
The South Koreans led the standings ahead of the game but are now level on six points with Shandong, who move into pole position thanks to a better head-to-head record over Incheon and third-placed Yokohama F Marinos.
The Japanese outfit also picked up their second win of the group phase when they handed visitors Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines a 3-0 defeat with Kota Mizunuma, Kenyu Sugimoto and Anderson Lopes on target for Kevin Muscat’s team.
Only the winners of each of the 10 groups in the Asian Champions League are certain to progress to the last 16, where they will be joined by the three runners-up from the eastern and western halves of the continent with the best records.
Thailand’s Bangkok United maintained their perfect start in Group F by coming from behind to beat Kitchee 2-1 in Hong Kong.
Austria international Jakob Jantscher, a summer signing for the Hong Kong champions, gave Kitchee a seventh-minute lead but Rungrath Phumichantuk levelled four minutes into first half stoppage time.
Willen Mota put Bangkok in front from the penalty spot seven minutes after the interval when Fernando handled inside the area and the Thais held on to all three points despite Bassel Jradi’s 84th-minute sending off.
Bangkok lead twice champions Jeonbuk Motors by three points after Dan Petrescu’s team eased to a 3-0 win over Lion City Sailors, with the Singaporeans in third and Kitchee rooted to the bottom without a point.
In Group H, first half goals from Alessandro Lopane and Jamie Maclaren saw Melbourne City secure a 2-0 win over Buriram United in Thailand to move onto seven points from three games.
The Australians lead the standings by three points from Japan’s Ventforet Kofu, who slipped to their first loss when Lucas Possignolo and Nyasha Mushekwi earned the Chinese hosts a 2-0 win and their first points of the campaign.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Christian Radnedge)
