China's Guangzhou Evergrande took a firm grip on their AFC Champions League last 16 tie with Central Coast Mariners Wednesday, as Kashiwa Reysol stunned former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Muriqui scores the winner for Guangzhou Evergrande against Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Wednesday. China's Guangzhou Evergrande took a firm grip on their AFC Champions League last 16 tie with Central Coast Mariners, as Kashiwa Reysol stunned former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
Mega-rich Guangzhou, coached by World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and inspired by their South American stars, fought back from a goal down to win 2-1 in Gosford, gaining the upper hand ahead of next week's second leg.
Meanwhile Jeonbuk, the tournament's 2006 winners from South Korea, left themselves with a mountain to climb after Japan's Kashiwa scored one goal early and one late for a convincing 2-0 win.
In Gosford, with busloads of Chinese expats arriving for the game, young striker Mitchell Duke gave the Mariners a seventh-minute lead after latching on to a pass from Bernie Ibini.
But the Chinese double-winners grabbed control with Argentinian Dario Conca calling the shots with his defence-splitting passes, and right-back Zhang Linpeng keeping Mariners danger man Michael McGlinchey firmly in check.
Guangzhou levelled on 28 minutes through Paraguayan ex-Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios, who blasted home past goalkeeper Mat Ryan following a lightning counter-attack.
The Chinese side strengthened their hold on the match in the second half with Conca pulling the strings, and it was no surprise when Brazilian Muriqui scored the winner with 14 minutes left.
A flick-on from Gao Lin put the club's all-time leading goalscorer into space to score for the sixth time in seven ACL games this season.
Muriqui had a chance to make it three in the 81st minute when a Conca pass presented him with a clear-cut shooting opportunity, but 'keeper Ryan saved at point-blank range -- a stop which could prove important come next week.
"You could see that they have quality on the ball and a lot of international players, so a lot of experience," the Mariners' soon-to-retire Dutch defender Patrick Zwaanswijk said.
"In transition they are deadly and they showed that, overall they are a great team, but it isn't over yet."
Meanwhile Kashiwa were one-up after just three minutes at Jeonju World Cup Stadium thanks to Masato Kudo, who rocked the hosts with a header.
Jeonbuk settled down and they pressed strongly for the equaliser through Brazilian midfielder Eninho, who went close after half-time following a defensive error from Kashiwa's Naoya Kondo.
Kashiwa 'keeper Sugeno Takanori kept out Park Hee-Do and Lee Dong-Gook with a fantastic double-stop. He saved again from Park after a run into the box by the Jeonbuk midfielder.
Jeonbuk's Lim You-Hwan then passed up a golden chance to level it on 70 minutes, when he planted a header from an Eninho free kick wide of the uprights.
And five minutes later, Kashiwa made Jeonbuk pay when defender Tatsuya Masushima, unmarked on a Jorge Wagner corner, nodded home a simple goal from near the penalty spot.
Substitute Leonardo forced a reaction save from Takanori, and former Middlesbrough man Lee went for broke with an acrobatic overhead, but there was no consolation for Jeonbuk who have it all to do in next week's return leg.
Qatar's Lekhwiya grabbed a 1-0 win at Saudi giants Al Hilal thanks to an 81st-minute goal from Tunisian striker Youssef Al Msakni.
It was a winning return to Riyadh for Lekhwiya coach Eric Gerets, who was in charge of Al Hilal when they reached the semi-finals in 2010.
Iranian champions Esteghlal came from a goal down to beat Al Shabab Al Arabi 4-2 in Dubai.
Luiz Henrique put the home side in front just before half-time but Esteghlal stormed back with goals by former Aston Villa and Bolton player Jlloyd Samuel, Javad Nekounam and Farhad Majidi.
Edgar reduced the arrears after 85 minutes before the Iranians restored their two-goal cushion thanks to Khosro Heidari in the last minute.