AFC Champions League Elite
A back-and-forth opening quarter hour saw Beijing surge ahead through Chadrac Akolo before his second-minute strike was cancelled out by a sixth-minute Jakob Tranziska penalty, with Zhang Xizhe restoring the home side’s advantage in the 12th minute.
Jeremy Dudziak struck a minute into the second half to ensure the Chinese Super League champions left with their first three points from an entertaining opening match.
Beijing made a resounding start two minutes into the match when Akolo, taking advantage of a disastrous slip by Jin Si-woo outside the left of the area, stole the ball from the defender and gleefully rifled his shot beyond keeper Yoon Pyung-guk’s reach.
Their joy was short-lived, however, after Deng Jiefu was penalised two minutes later for a foul on Tranziska, with the Steelers’ striker sweeping the ball down the centre from the resulting spot-kick as keeper Hou Sen dived to the left.
There was no let-up to the early scoring action as Beijing skipper Zhang ran in from behind in the 12th minute and pounced on a save by Yoon from Akolo, sliding the ball past the hapless custodian to restore the China PR outfit’s lead.
MD1: Beijing FC (CHN) v FC Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Item 1 of 8
Akolo was substituted in the 34th minute after picking up an injury, and amidst a slew of delays, the tempo slowed down considerably with little to show from both sides going into the break.
Beijing again stunned the visitors early on when Dudziak found the back of the net within a minute of the restart, the former Tunisia international lashing the ball in from close range during a goalmouth scramble.
Steelers striker Jorge Teixeira was allowed too much space on the left in the 65th minute but the Brazilian’s spirited run came to a disappointing end when he shot tamely straight at Hou Sen.
Kim Dong-jin and Kim Seung-ho’s attempts towards the close to pull the Korea Republic side back into the game amounted to nothing as Beijing held on for the win.
Related News
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD1: Kashima Antlers FC (JPN) 7-1 Newcastle Jets FC (AUS)
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD1: Ratchaburi FC (THA) 4-6 Shanghai Port FC (CHN)
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD1: Gamba Osaka (JPN) 4-1 Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD1: Daejeon Hanacitizen FC (KOR) 1-0 Kyoto Sanga FC (JPN)
- AFC Champions League Elite
Al Ahli meet Pusic's expectations
Item 1 of 5