Guangzhou Evergrande 4-0 Muangthong United

Guangzhou Evergrande were too good for Muangthong United as they ran out 4-0 winners.

It took only four minutes for Guangzhou to threaten the Muangthong goal. A Conca corner was bulleted goalwards by Kim Young Gwon but thankfully Phichitphong was standing by the post to clear the ball.

Teerasil wasn't selected after arriving late in China, and the lone striking role was given to Roland Linz. The Austrian was thwarted in the 13th minute when the Chinese goalkeeper, Zeng Cheng, just beat him to the ball after Artit had knocked the ball towards goal.

The pressure was mounting as the home side tried to penetrate the ultra defensive set up of Muangthong.

Muriqui and Dario Conca both had efforts that went narrowly wide before a Conca corner was glanced onto the bar by Barrios.

The home side were virtually camped inside the MTU half, and another Conca cross from the right found Gao Lin whose header was brilliantly saved by Weera.

The home side had dominated but they were given a sharp reminder to be aware of breakaways on 34 minutes when a a long ball from Djurovski found Linz. The target man rounded the floundering keeper, but Zhao Peng was on hand to block.

Two minutes later Muangthong had another chance to score. Djurovski played a great ball for Sarawut to burst through on goal. However, the former Chamchuri man's flicked shot was saved by Zeng Cheng.

On the stroke of half time, Jakkaphan cut inside from the left and unleashed a shot which Zeng Cheng palmed upwards before it bounced onto the top of the bar and out.

As the players trooped off the pitch at half time, you could tell that Slavisa Jokanovic was far happier than his counterpart Marcelo Lippi.

Whatever the Italian said at half time seemed to work as his side took the lead six minutes after the interval. Gao Lin sent a pinpoint cross over from the right for an unmarked Dario Conca to head home.

On 58 minutes it was game over as the Chinese champions doubled their lead. Muriqui played a swift one-two with Barrios before he calmly passed the ball past Weera into the net.

It was basically damage limitation for the Twin Qilans as Conca drilled a shot wide and Weera made a decent save from Gao Lin after a quick breakaway.

Nevertheless, Djurovski should have pulled a goal back for the Thai side in the 71st minute when he fired over an Artit pull back.

With seven minutes left Gao Lin finally got the goal his performance deserved when a tired Muangthong looking back line played him onside to convert Muriqui's pass.

Muangthong almost grabbed a consolation goal two minutes later after Teerasil looped a header onto the crossbar. The ball bounced back into play and was eventually blasted over by Sarawut.

As full time approached, Teerasil was penalised for grabbing hold of Zang Linpeng's shirt and a penalty was awarded. Conca stepped up, and the little Argentinian's left footed shot predictably found the bottom left hand corner.

That was it as the super rich Chinese side claimed a 4-0 win to stay top of Group F. The gulf in class was just too much for Muangthong, yet they can be proud of their efforts in the Tianhe Stadium.

The pair will meet again in six days at the Thunderdome.

Man of the Match: Dario Conca - Constant threat

AFC Matchday 6 - Make or Break for Buriram Utd

AFC Champions League - Group H
(Tuesday)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Kashiwa Reysol
Buriram United v Guangzhou Evergrande

Buriram United's hopes of reaching the AFC Champions League last 16 hinge on them beating Guangzhou at home together with Jeonbuk remaining undefeated when they host Kashiwa Reysol. With the Jeonbuk game set to start at 5pm, Buriram could know their fate by the time their game commences at 6.30pm.
The Thunder Castle's qualification train has been slowly running out of steam after two unexpected victories on matchdays 1&2. Before the group commenced, Buriram were seen as rank outsiders, but after encouraging early results, the double loss to Jeonbuk and Kashiwa Reysol last time out have dampened the mood slightly for the Thai side. A victory over big spending Ghangzhou is certainly doable as the Southern China Tigers have been very suspect at the back in their previous group games.
If Buriram were to squeeze into second place, they'd face a trip to familiar territory with either Japan's FC Tokyo or Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea lined up as their last 16 opponents. Currently both sides are entwined together on 11 points in Group F as the duo are set to clash for their final group game in Korea.

ACL & AFC Cup Matchday 2 - Preview

AFC Champions League - Group H
(Wednesday)
Kashiwa Reysol v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Guangzhou Evergrande v Buriram United

The opening games of this group saw Buriram United edge out Kashiwa Reysol 3-2 while in South Korea, the Chinese Super League champions, Guangzhou Evergrande, were running amok as they emphatically crushed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5-1. If Buriram United can come away from the Guangzhou Tianhe Sport Center undefeated, it would be regarded as one of the greatest results achieved by a Thai side in modern times. Guangzhou's South American attacking trio of Cleo, Muriqui and Dario Conca were buzzing in their opener against Jeonbuk and containing them is going to be an extremely onerous task for the Buriram rearguard. The Thunder Castle have leaked a couple of uncharacteristically soft goals this season and they'll need to improve if they plan to keep their Chinese opposition scoreless.
In the other match, Kashiwa Reysol and Jeonbuk both need to get points on the board after opening day defeats. A loss for either side would make qualification for the next round look highly unlikely.

AFC Cup  - Group G
(Wednesday)
Chonburi v Home United
Citizen AA v Yangon United

Chonburi welcome Home United of Singapore to the Chonburi Stadium.  The Protectors currently sit 4th in the S-League after their 2-1 victory at Hougang United last Thursday evening. Ex-Police United midfielder John Wilkinson makes a swift return to Thailand with Home United after he spent an unnoteworthy year in the TPL last season. The Sharks defence will have to keep an eye on 6ft 3in Frédéric Mendy and the Japanese striker, Shotaro Ihata. Mendy was the S-League's golden boot winner in 2010 while Ihata currently tops the 2012 charts with 6 goals in 5 league games. Nonetheless, Chonburi will be looking for 9 points from their three home games and failure to win this tie would be a disappointing outcome. This season has started brightly for Chonburi. They won the Kor Royal Cup last week beating Buriram United and in their TPL opener they easily dispatched Thai Port 4-0.
In Hong Kong, Citizen AA and Yangon United will both be seeking their first win in this group as they meet at the recently renovated Mongkok Stadium.

Buriram Beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-2 & Chonburi Snatch Late Draw

AFC Champions League - Group H

Buriram United 3-2 Kashiwa Reysol
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1-5 Guangzhou Evergrande

Buriram United earned a creditable 3-2 win over Japanese champions Kashiwa Reysol in their opening game in the AFC Champions League. The Thai side showed they weren't overawed by the higher class of opposition as they opened the scoring after 11 minutes through Jirawat and then doubled their lead with a curled effort from Uzbekistani, Askar, on 38 minutes to give themselves a two goal advantage at the break. By the midway point of the second half though, the 2-0 lead was cancelled out through goals from Tanaka and Sakai. At this point, the Sun Kings appeared to be in the ascendancy, but fortunately for Buriram they seemed to tire. Jirawat's second goal on 78 minutes after good link up play was the decisive goal in the contest as the Thunder Castle won 3-2
The other Group H game in South Korea finished 5-1 to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande. Guangzhou's debut began a bit apprehensively, but they grew in confidence as the first half progressed and eventually raced into a 2-0 half time lead. The opening goal was a superb passing move that was finished by Brazilian, Cleo. The second was a free kick from 30 yards scored by Dario Conca. Guangzhou continued with their dominance in the second 45 with goals from Cleo, Dario Conca and Mariqui as they swept aside the Korean side. Jeonbuk's consolation goal was scored by Shung Hoon.
I watched both of these games and if Buriram United get anything from their trip to Guangzhou in the next game it will be a incredible achievement. For me, the Chinese team look like they could go on and win this tournament. 

AFC Cup  - Group G
Yangon United 1-1 Chonburi
Home United 3-1 Citizen AA

Chonburi rescued a very late point in Yangon as Sukree's leveller cancelled out the Burmese side's first half goal. The point will be regarded as one gained rather than two lost despite the fact that Chonburi would have seen this as a winnable match before kick off.
In Singapore, Home United staged a second half fight back to beat Citizen AA 3-1at the Bishan Stadium