Tuesday's AFC Champions League Elite action delivered heartbreak for two Chinese Super League clubs, as hosts Chengdu Rongcheng and Shanghai Port both failed to secure wins, leaving them outside the East Zone's top eight.
In Chengdu, the Phoenix Hill Sports Park erupted when captain Tim Chow won a spot kick five minutes into the second half. Felipe stepped up and coolly rounded Keisuke Osako to fire Rongcheng ahead in the 54th minute. The lead, however, lasted only until the 63rd minute, when Sanfrecce Hiroshima coach introduced Daiki Suga and Mutsuki Kato. Suga's precise cross pulled defenders away, allowing Sota Nakamura to tee up Kato for the equaliser that levelled the contest at 1-1.
That 1-1 draw leaves Rongcheng 10th in the East Zone group with five points from four matches, while Sanfrecce sit fifth on eight points, keeping their knockout hopes alive.
Meanwhile, in another Chinese Super League home fixture, Shanghai Port also missed the chance to grab maximum points, remaining outside the East Zone's top eight. Both clubs now face a pivotal run of fixtures as the group stage reaches its midpoint.
With the margins razor-thin in this year's ACL Elite, every point will count. Rongcheng and Port must turn draws into wins if they hope to climb the table and reach the knockout phase.
Reference(s):
Rongcheng and Port unable to secure wins in AFC Champions League Elite
cgtn.com
