REDEMPTION OF GUANGZHOU LIPPI: VICTORY AND FIRST PLACE IN ROUND CHAMPIONS

Holders Guangzhou Evergrande booked their place in the Round of 16 in the 2014 AFC Champions League after a comfortable 2-1 win over Yokohama F Marinos at Tianhe Stadium secured top spot in Group G for last season’s title winners.

Two first half goals by a rejuvenated Elkeson undid the Emperor’s Cup holders, who miss out on a place in the next phase of the competition as Guangzhou are joined in the last 16 by Korea Republic’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Manabu Saito pulled one back with five minutes remaining for Yokohama with a spectacular strike from the edge of the area, but it was not enough to stop the J.League side from exiting the tournament.

Guangzhou coach Marcello Lippi was able to call upon Gao Lin again after the China international missed the loss against Jeonbuk on Matchday 5 due to suspension and the striker was a key part of an impressive performance by the Chinese Super League side.

With Alessandro Diamanti on the bench, Guangzhou started with Elkeson leading the line and supported by Muriqui and Gao, with the trio putting in a performance that harked back to last season, despite the absence through injury of captain Zheng Zhi.

Rong Hao, who started in place of Zheng, almost gave Guangzhou the lead after just five minutes but his shot from an acute angle was pushed away for a corner by Marinos goalkeeper Tetsuya Enomoto.

Six minutes later, though, Guangzhou took the lead when the home side’s attacking trio clicking into action with Muriqui sliding the ball into the path of Gao, whose deft touch took him past a diving Dutra before floating in a cross that Elkeson nodded past Enomoto.

Muriqui could have added a second just five minutes later, but Enomoto diverted his close range effort wide with his foot before Dutra saw his long range effort palmed to safety at the other end by Zeng Cheng.

Seven minutes before halftime, Guangzhou made it 2-0 as they again capitalized on Yokohama’s lack of pace in defence as Elkeson latched on to Muriqui’s through ball to lift his effort over the keeper and Yuzo Kobayashi was unable to steer the Brazilian’s effort to safety.

Marinos, needing to score three times in the final 45 minutes to resurrect their hopes of a place in the next round, pressed hard in the opening minutes of the second half, with Shunsuke Nakamura calling Zenginto action with a 53rd minute free kick, but as the half wore on Guangzhou looked the more likely to score.

Gao should have claimed a third for his side when he was one-on-one with Enomoto, only to see his attempt to lift the ball over the keeper bounce to safety beyond the post.

Seconds later Elkeson fired over the bar when Evergrande appeared certain to score but, with six minutes remaining, Saito struck for Marinos when he cut inside from the left before unleashing a fine curling effort that Zeng had no hope of stopping.

However, rather than sparking a comeback for Marinos, the goal proved to be little more than a consolation as Guangzhou did enough to keep their defence of the title alive.