Guangzhou R&F coach, Cosmin Contra. (Photo : Inside Spanish Football)
Bookmakers might have found themselves a little dazed on Tuesday, as China's Guangzhou R&F made an impressive debut in the AFC Champions League with a victory over three-time championship-title holders, Gamba Osaka.
To add to the mark that the newcomer team left on the field, the players under Spanish manager Cosmin Contra prevailed before an Osaka crowd with little regard for the Gamba's home-side advantage.
The inaugural appearance of the Guangzhou team was spearheaded by the Moroccan striker, Abderrazaq Hamedallah, who weaved his way through the Osaka defense formation to plant a goal in the back of their net with only 11 minutes registered on the timer.
The Shanghai Daily publication described Hamedallah's aftermath, in which a "back-pedalling Gamba defense" was "red-faced."
The dream AFC Champions League introduction then continued for Guangzhou R&F, when Wang Song deflected a free kick across the Gamba goal line, this time with only 11 minutes until full time.
Overall, the Japanese team's ball possession totaled 68 percent, with seven attempts at the opponent's goal during the first half.
Unfortunately for the home side, Guangzhou R&F's keeper, Liu Dianzuo, was intent on making sure that nothing passed through him, and he protected his team on three key occasions.
The Chinese side entered into Tuesday's contest with not only a new coach, but also the pressure of the precedent set by local rival and compatriots, Guangzhou Evergrande, who emerged with the AFC title two years ago.
Even though Contra conceded that his team had a slight advantage, whereby Gamba Osaka was "in the pre-season" and the Chinese side "had played two official," the significant magnitude of Guangzhou's AFC League start could not be denied.
