Teixeira double sparks Jiangsu in Asia

NANJING, China : A lex Teixeira’s double strike put China’s deep- pocketed Jiangsu Suning on top of their AFC Champions League group with a 2-1 win over Adelaide United on Wednesday.

As Chinese rivals Guangzhou Evergrande scrambled a 2-2 draw with Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Teixeira scored an early tap-in and a brilliant solo effort late on in Nanjing.

The match-winning performance by the former Liverpool target, a 50- millioneuros signing from Shakhtar Donetsk last year, put Jiangsu top of Group H with a maximum six points.

Jiangsu, bankrolled by the Suning group which also controls Inter Milan, were runners-up to Evergrande in last year’s Chinese Super League but the Asian title looms as a much bigger prize.

They were quickly on top against Adelaide when Teixeira snapped up a rebound from former Chelsea man Ramires on 14 minutes.

Adelaide were threatening to equalise but on 72 minutes, Teixeira set off on a run from the left, drifting past a defender before nutmegging goalkeeper Daniel Margush.

Substitute forward Eli Babalj grabbed a goal for Adelaide in injury time but there was to be no miracle comeback for the 2008 Asian finalists and r ei g ning Aus t ra l i an champions.

Earlier, Brazilian forward Alan struck late to spare Evergrande’s blushes 2-2 against Suwon, just a week after the Chinese giants hammered Hong Kong’s Eastern 7-1.

L uiz Felipe Scolari’s team were headed for a shock defeat in South Korea before Alan slammed home a loose ball on 81 minutes to keep the two- time Asian champions top of Group G. — AFP