A Ma Leilei brace helped Tianjin Teda record an historic first-ever victory in the Asian Champions League as the Chinese side defeated Kawasaki Frontale 3-1 at Tianjin Teda Stadium today.
Ma scored in the 11th and 18th minutes and Damiano Tommasi also netted for the hosts while Renatinho grabbed a consolation strike for Kawasaki.
Tianjin made the ideal start to the game when Ma rattled home a fine 30-yard drive before adding a second seven minutes later when he fired home from inside the box after picking up a pass from Tommasi.
Chances in the remainder of the first half were few and far between with Juninho's volley wide 13 minutes from the break proving the only one of note.
Kawasaki came out on the offensive after the restart as Juninho rattled the crossbar three minutes after the interval while substitute Renatinho hit the outside of the post a minute later.
Their pressure finally told when Yusuke Mori crossed into the box and Renatinho made no mistake with a powerful header in the 51st minute.
It seemed an equaliser was merely a matter of time as Hiroyuki Tanaguchi headed over from Vitor Junior's cross while the dangerous Renatinho was just wide when his close-range effort from Juninho's pass went narrowly wide in the 67th minute.
Scuffles broke out following a Mori challenge which brought up six minutes of stoppage time, during which Tommasi ensured the points went the way of the hosts when he produced a fine finish through the legs of Yusuke Igawa to make it 3-1.
Tianjin made the ideal start to the game when Ma rattled home a fine 30-yard drive before adding a second seven minutes later when he fired home from inside the box after picking up a pass from Tommasi.
Chances in the remainder of the first half were few and far between with Juninho's volley wide 13 minutes from the break proving the only one of note.
Kawasaki came out on the offensive after the restart as Juninho rattled the crossbar three minutes after the interval while substitute Renatinho hit the outside of the post a minute later.
Their pressure finally told when Yusuke Mori crossed into the box and Renatinho made no mistake with a powerful header in the 51st minute.
It seemed an equaliser was merely a matter of time as Hiroyuki Tanaguchi headed over from Vitor Junior's cross while the dangerous Renatinho was just wide when his close-range effort from Juninho's pass went narrowly wide in the 67th minute.
Scuffles broke out following a Mori challenge which brought up six minutes of stoppage time, during which Tommasi ensured the points went the way of the hosts when he produced a fine finish through the legs of Yusuke Igawa to make it 3-1.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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