Goulart makes good start, holders win
Record signing Ricardo Goulart gave Guangzhou Evergrande's new boss Fabio Cannavaro a flying start in the AFC Champions League when he snatched a 1-0 win over FC Seoul on Wednesday. The Brazilian joined the wealthy 2013 champions for a Chinese record of €15m last month, and it looked a shrewd investment as his first-half header sealed victory.
Goulart had a thunderbolt shot parried away but, from the resulting corner, he combined with fellow Brazilian newcomer Alan to settle what was a rematch of the 2013 final. Alan, an €11m acquisition from Red Bull Salzburg, nodded the high corner to the back post where the unmarked Goulart stooped to head home on 31 minutes.
Sharp-suited Cannavaro was appearing in front of the red hordes at Guangzhou's Tianhe stadium for the first time, and the Italian will be relieved to get off the mark in Group H. It was only the 2006 FIFA World player of the Year's second game in management following Guangzhou's shock Chinese Super Cup loss to Shandong Luneng on penalties earlier this month.
However, Guangzhou trail Western Sydney Wanderers on goal difference in Group H after the defending champions shrugged off woeful domestic form to beat Kashima Antlers 3-1. A Gen Shoji own goal helped the Wanderers on their way and, despite Shoma Doi's 68th-minute equaliser, late strikes from Yojiro Takahagi and Mark Bridge sealed the away win.
Australian agony in Brisbane
The victory will be a major boost for last year's surprise winners, who have registered just one victory from 16 Australian A-League games and lie bottom of the domestic table.
However, Australian champions Brisbane Roar were cruelly undone as they lost 1-0 to Beijing Guoan in Group G courtesy of a Shao Jiayi free-kick in the 90th minute. Shao's attempt from distance took a wicked deflection and sailed into the Brisbane goal as the ex-China international was mobbed by his team-mates.
Also in Group G, Oh Beom-Seok and Brazilian striker Leo netted in the second half as South Korea's Suwon Samsung came from behind to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1.
Meanwhile in Dubai, UAE champions Al Ahli equalized three times to secure a 3-3 draw against their namesake Saudi rivals in a Group D clash. Ismail al-Hamadi struck twice for the Emirati side at Rashid Stadium to rescue a point after the Saudis had gone ahead three times in the match.
Brazilian Osvaldo struck in the very first minute of play, while Hussain al-Moqahwi and captain Taisir al-Jassim all helped themselves with a goal each for the Saudis. But with Ahmed Khalil also finding the net for the hosts, the teams shared the spoils to leave Uzbekistan's Nasaf at the top of Group D after they had beaten Iran's Tractorsazi Tabriz 2-1.
Qatari giants Al Sadd, the Asian champions in 2011, played out a goalless draw against Iran's Foolad Kouzestan in Ahwaz in Group C, while Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal defeated Uzbekistan's Lokomotiv Tashkent 3-1 thanks to goals from Saud Khariri, Yousef al-Salem and Thago Neves. Sardor Mirzayev pulled one back for the Uzbeks.