Shandong Luneng striker Diego Tardelli. (Photo : Getty Images)
Chinese Super League squad Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (2-0-0, 6 points) blanked a hard-fighting Buriram United FC (0-2-0, 0 points) of Thailand, 3-0, in a 2016 AFC Champions League group stage game held on Tuesday at the Jinan Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Jinan, Shandong, China.
The Orangionnaires outlasted the reigning Thai Premier League champions amidst a tough defensive effort from both teams, netting all three of their goals in the final 25 minutes of the match.
The first half ended in a goalless draw as the hosts "wasted a few one-on-ones" in the first 45 minutes of play, as reported by Cri English, but their defense held on against the tough Thunder Castles, who kept on counter-attacking.
Finally, five minutes after the hour mark, Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli pierced the net of Buriram goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen to open the scoring in favor of Shandong.
The second goal for the hosts took some time to follow, but it did 16 minutes later via a brilliant move from another Brazilian, 27-year-old Rio de Janeiro native Jucilei, at the 81st minute, as per Goal.
Five minutes later, local Chinese player Zhao Mingjian sealed the game to complete the three-goal haul of head coach Mano Menezes' side and gain another three points in the overall standings of Group F.
Shandong is currently on top of Group F, together with K League Classic (South Korea's first division football league) club FC Seoul, with 6 points. Buriram and Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima both have zero points as they have yet to win a game in the group stage of the said tournament.
The Orangionnaires won their group stage opener against Sanfrecce, 2-1, on Feb. 23rd in a road match held at the Hiroshima Big Arch in Hiroshima, Japan.
By placing third in last season's China top flight competitions, Shandong qualified in the preliminary round 2 of the Champions League, beating Indian club Mohun Bagan, 6-0, also at their home field in Jinan.
The team defeated next Australia's Adelaide United, 2-1, in the playoff round at the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide earlier this month to qualify in the group stage.
