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Alan late show spares Evergrande’s blushes

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SEOUL: Brazilian forward Alan scrambled a 2-2 draw for Guangzhou Evergrande against Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Wednesday, just a week after the Chinese giants smashed seven goals in their AFC Champions League opener.


Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chinese champions were headed for a shock defeat in Suwon with nine minutes remaining, before Alan slammed home a loose ball with the home defence in disarray.


Evergrande’s late show kept the 2013 and 2015 Asian title-winners top of Group G after their first two games, following their 7-1 thrashing of Hong Kong’s Eastern last week.


In pouring rain at South Korea’s Suwon World Cup Stadium, the hosts went ahead on the quarter-hour when unmarked Brazilian Santos met a corner with a firm header from close range.


The lead lasted just 10 minutes before Ricardo Goulart equalised with a stunning snap-shot when he half-volleyed past goalkeeper Shin Hwa-Yong from the edge of the box.


But Suwon made it 2-1 on 32 minutes from another corner when Johnathan arrived late to side-foot a low ball past Evergrande’s Zeng Cheng. After Alan became the night’s fourth Brazilian scorer, Evergrande could have snatched all the points but Paulinho blazed over and a Goulart free kick was scrambled away.


In Group H, Yasuhito Endo’s own goal triggered a collapse by Gamba Osaka as the early table-toppers slumped to a 4-1 home defeat to South Korea’s Jeju United.. — AFP


AFC Champions League results


Group G


Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR) 2 (Santos 15, Johnathan 32) Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 2 (Goulart 25, Alan 81)


Group H


Gamba Osaka (JPN) 1 (Ademilson 89) Jeju United (KOR) 4 (Endo 44 OG, Lee Chang-Min 45+1, 72, Toscano 51)


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