Jiangsu brush domestic woes aside to reach ACL last 16

Gamba hand Shanghai 1st loss

HONG KONG, April 12, (RTRS): Chinese Super League strugglers Jiangsu Suning became the first to qualify for the knockout phase of the Asian Champions League as compatriots Shanghai SIPG fell to their first defeat.

Jiangsu, runners-up in the Chinese Super League last year but currently bottom of the domestic standings, notched their fourth win in a row in the competition with a 3-0 dismissal of former champions Gamba Osaka from Japan on Tuesday.

The victory sealed the top spot in Group H and secured a place in the last 16.

Adelaide United moved into second after their surprise 3-1 win over South Korea’s Jeju United, with Gamba rooted to the bottom of the group.

“Our team has shown a lot of strength,” said coach Choi Yong-soo, who had goals from Alex Teixeira, Ramires and Hong Jeong-ho to thank for the win. “Our opponent was more impatient than us and our counterattacking worked. We won at home and it has erased the depression we have had from the domestic league games and made our fans happy,” he said. “We have had a tough time in the CSL, but along with the return of some of our core players I believe we will get back on track very soon and come back with good results.”

Two-time champions Guangzhou Evergrande were replaced at the summit of Group C after Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team were held to a 0-0 draw by Kawasaki Frontale.

Suwon Bluewings took sole possession of top spot with a 5-0 victory over Eastern from Hong Kong.

And Japanese champions Kashima Antlers suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat at the hands of Brisbane Roar to allow Thailand’s Muangthong United to move

Teixeira