Beijing deal debilitating blow to Beetles
Thai League 1 champions Chiang Rai United suffered a 1-0 home loss to Beijing Guoan in the AFC Champions League last night.
Wang Ziming scored the winner for the visitors after 22 minutes.
It was the Beetles’ second defeat in as many games in their continental club championship campaign.
In yesterday’s other Group E match, FC Seoul of South Korea defeated Australia’s Melbourne Victory 1-0.
Beijing, FC Seoul, who have played one game each, and Melbourne Victory, who have played two matches, have three points.
Having lost 1-0 at Melbourne Victory last week, Chiang Rai United, led by Brazilian striker Bill Rosimar, are still looking for their first point in their ACL debut.
At Seoul, FC Seoul got their ACL campaign off to a winning start, edging Melbourne Victory 1-0 thanks to an early strike from veteran forward Park Chu-Young.
Making their return to the ACL a week later than expected after a threeyear absence, Choi Yong-Soo’s charges prevailed in a 90-minute arm-wrestle, outlasting the visitors at a bitterly cold Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The Australian outfit had endured a 15-game winless streak against South Korean opposition, and their barren run looked set to continue when Seoul eased into the lead through Park’s effort after just eight minutes.
Victory’s defence were caught cold, allowing the one-time Arsenal man to ease the ball into the bottom corner of Lawrence Thomas’ net from just behind the penalty spot.