Gao Lin (L) of Guangzhou Evergrande vies with Takuya Iwanami of Urawa Red Diamonds during the AFC Champions League soccer semifinal first leg match against Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in Saitama, Japan, Oct. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
Chinese Super League's Guangzhou Evergrande lost 2-0 to Urawa Red Diamonds in their first leg of AFC Champions League semifinal on Wednesday.
TOKYO, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Two goals from outside of the penalty area in each half gifted Urawa Red Diamonds a 2-0 win over Guangzhou Evergrande in their first leg of AFC Champions League semifinal here on Wednesday.
Takahiro Sekine (front) of Urawa Red Diamonds shoots and scores during the AFC Champions League soccer semifinal first leg match against Guangzhou Evergrande FC of China in Saitama, Japan, Oct. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
Urawa dominated the match as Fabricio scored in the 19th minute to break the deadlock before Takahiro Sekine added another in the 75th minute to seal the victory.
Brazilian Fabricio tested keeper Zeng Cheng with a long range effort in the 14th minute, then fired a right-footed shot five minutes later into the far corner of the goal after receiving Sekine's pinpoint pass, helping the home side for a comfortable early lead.
Gao Lin (L) of Guangzhou Evergrande breaks through past Daiki Hashioka of Urawa Red Diamonds during the AFC Champions League soccer semifinal first leg match in Saitama, Japan, Oct. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
Urawa had chance to double their lead in the 27th minute, only to see Daiki Hashioka's shot in the box blocked at the goal line by Deng Hanwen.
Leading 1-0 into the second half, the home players continued their momentum while Guangzhou had few chances to make threats after Anderson Talisca's left-foot attempt went off the bar in the 54th minute.
Fabricio (1st L) of Urawa Red Diamonds celebrates after scoring during the AFC Champions League soccer semifinal first leg match against Guangzhou Evergrande FC of China in Saitama, Japan, Oct. 2, 2019. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)
The Japanese found their second goal in the 75th minute as Sekine launched a missile from outside of box into the bottom corner.
Substitute Wei Shihao netted for Guangzhou in the 84th minute but was ruled offside when Paulinho passed the through ball.
The second leg will take place in Guangzhou three weeks later. ■
