Beijing Guoan of the Chinese Super League kicked off their AFC Champions League Two journey with a thrilling 2-2 draw against visiting Cong An Hanoi on Thursday in Beijing. Despite twice coming from behind, Guoan saw their winless streak stretch to three matches across all competitions.
First Half Drama: Beijing fell behind early, conceding in the 15th minute after Leo Artur's deflected effort fell to Vitao, who unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box. Cong An Hanoi looked set to double their lead in the 38th minute, but Guoan goalkeeper Nureli Abbas produced a superb save to keep his side within touching distance.
Second Half Comeback: The turning point came just four minutes into the second half. Midfielder Zhang Yuan provided the perfect pass for Chi Zhongguo, whose thunderous shot from distance found the bottom left corner. Guoan then flipped the script in the 65th minute, intercepting a back pass from Hanoi keeper Nguyen Filip. Zhang raced onto the loose ball and calmly slotted into an open net to make it 2-1.
Late Equalizer: The home side's defensive mix-up in the box proved costly again, as the opponents exploited the chaos for China to net the equalizer in the 73rd minute. Guoan's hopes of a home victory were dashed, but the spectacle of four goals at the Workers' Stadium provided plenty for fans to digest.
Key Stats:
- Goals: 2 each side
- Scoring span: 15' to 73'
- Winless run: 3 matches
Looking ahead, Beijing Guoan will aim to end their drought and build momentum as they continue their continental campaign.
Reference(s):
Beijing Guoan hold Hanoi 2-2 in AFC Champions League Two opener
cgtn.com
