Guangzhou frustrated again

HONG KONG: Guangzhou Evergrande coach Fabio Cannavaro endured frustration for a second week in a row as his side were held 0-0 by Japan’s Cerezo Osaka as the two-time champions drew again in the Asian Champions League.

Neither side could find the back of the net in a tense encounter. It means the Italian World Cup winner has yet to steer his team to a win since returning to the club ahead of the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season.

“We prepared very carefully for this game and the team showed outstanding spirit,” said Cannavaro.

“What matters most is that we created so many opportunities, but we only have two points.”

Guangzhou struggled with a lack of fluency and it was Cerezo who looked the more likely to take all three points with a strong finish inspired by substitute Yoichiro Kakitani.

But the seven-time CSL champions did enough to take a point which leaves them in third place in Group G, two points adrift of leaders Cerezo and one behind South Korea’s Jeju United, who handed Buriram United a 2-0 defeat in Thailand.

Japan’s Kashima Antlers impressed in their 2-1 win over Suwon Bluewings in which Dejan Damjanovic missed a penalty for the South Korean side. Mu Kanazaki claimed both of the goals to put the J League club top of Group H.

Sydney FC, meanwhile, rebounded from their disappointing opening day performance against Suwon to claim a 2-2 draw with Shanghai Shenhua, although Graham Arnold’s side remain bottom of the group.

Al Hilal sacked head coach Ramon Diaz after the Argentine’s side lost 1-0 to Iran’s Esteghlal in Group D.

Esteghlal are top of the group with four points, one more than Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates, who shared a 1-1 draw.

Baghdad Bounedjah scored twice as Al Sadd of Qatar moved to the top of Group C with a perfect record as they downed last year’s semi-finalists, Persepolis of Iran, 3-1. Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi secured their first win of the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Al Wasl from the UAE.