Japan, Korea taste success in AFC Champions League

Kawasaki Frontale outplayed China’s Tianjin Teda 1-0 in the AFC Champions League Wednesday but Japan’s 100 percent win record ended when Kashima Antlers suffered a crushing loss to Suwon Bluewings.

Brazil’s Renatinho struck in the 16th minute to give Frontale the perfect start to a tournament that has been expanded to 32 teams this year from 28 with stricter criteria in place in a bid to lift standards.

Tianjin midfielder Wang Xinxin came close to an equalizer shortly before the break but the chances were few and far between.

In the other Group H game of Asia’s top club competition, Australia’s Central Coast Mariners eeked out a 0-0 home draw with Korean FA Cup champions Pohang Steelers.

While disappointed not to have made the most of their home ground advantage, the Mariners will be relieved to come away with a share of the spoils after the visitors blew two clear-cut chances in the second half.

With defending champions Gamba Osaka and Nagoya Grampus winning their openers on Tuesday it was down to Kashima to keep the J-League run going, but they were out of their depth against Korea’s Suwon, crashing 4-1.

Two goals just before half-time won the match for the K-League champions, with Li Weifeng turning home an in-swinging freekick in the 44th minute and Goncalves Edu drilling in a volley with the last kick of the half.

Suwon made certain of victory in the 82nd minute when Hong Soon-Hak made it 3-0 with Park Hyun-Bem rifling in a fourth in the final minute.

Marquinhos put Kashima on the scoresheet in extra time but it was no consolation for the shell-shocked Japanese champions.

Meanwhile, China’s Shanghai Shenhua taught Singapore Armed Forces a harsh lesson in their AFC Champions League debut, cruising to a 4-1 win with a brace from Hernan Barcos and goals by Yu Tao and Yin Xifu.

In the West Asian side of the draw, Uzbek heavyweight’s Bunyodkor beat Saudi side Ettifaq 2-1.

Iran’s Foolad Sepahan play Al Shabab al Arabi of the United Arab Emirates later while Saudi giant’s Al Ittihad take on Iran’s Esteghlal.

The final match of the night sees UAE outfit Al Jazira up against Qatar’s Umm-Salal.

The group stages wrap up on May 20 with the knockout rounds starting later that month ahead of the final in Japan in November.