It was over before it really began. Former Benfica giant Anderson Talisca took it upon himself to demolish Victory's hopes of an upset, scoring a rocking header after just six minutes.

He then doubled the advantage four minutes later with a left-foot worldy, bending beyond Matt Acton from outside the area.

After Victory began to stabilise, a breakaway from Guangzhou led to the clincher from Yang Liyu, the winger tucking past a disappointing effort from Acton from a tight angle.

It was largely damage control from there on in, however a Leigh Broxham own goal, deflecting into his own net, added a little more insult to injury.

"We made too many mistakes, against a quality team they'll punish you every time," Valeri said.

"You just can't afford to make them and it's happened to us a couple of times. I think our style clashes. Sometimes it's the way when we play against that quality of opposition. I don't think we were up to scratch today to be honest.

"Our main focus now is the league, it's going to be tough but we're up to the challenge and I think we have the right mentality for it."

Melbourne Victory remain last in their group without a single point from three games, six points behind third-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima.