SHANGHAI: Holders Kashima Antlers earned a 0-0 draw at two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande in their AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday.
It leaves the J-League side with a small advantage going into the return fixture on September 18 and was a successive stalemate between Japanese and Chinese teams after Urawa Reds drew at Shanghai SIPG on Tuesday.
In a game of few chances, the Brazilian-born striker Elkeson — who is poised to make his debut for China after switching nationalities — fluffed a presentable opportunity midway through the second half to give Fabio Cannavaro’s Chinese Super League side the lead.
Anderson Talisca, the Brazilian attacking midfielder, crossed and the ball deflected to Elkeson, but the 30-year-old failed to make much contact and the chance was swallowed up.
Shoma Doi, Ryohei Shirasaki and Ayase Ueda all had chances for the visitors in the second half at a packed Tianhe Stadium, but Cannavaro’s men held firm.
As 90 minutes approached Kashima looked the more likely to break the deadlock and Shirasaki rattled the crossbar from distance.
Brazilian international Paulinho then had a golden opportunity at the death, but he mistimed his close-range header for Evergrande.
On Tuesday, Brazilian striker Hulk scored twice from the penalty spot to rescue Shanghai SIPG in a 2-2 home draw with Urawa Reds.
Urawa will go into the second leg in Japan as slight favorites on the away-goals rule, but it could have been so much better after they led 2-0 at the break.
Holders Kashima earn Champions League draw at Cannavaro’s Guangzhou
Holders Kashima earn Champions League draw at Cannavaro’s Guangzhou
- It leaves the J-League side with a small advantage going into the return fixture on September 18
- As 90 minutes approached Kashima looked the more likely to break the deadlock and Shirasaki rattled the crossbar from distance
Messi bags 899th goal as Miami down DC United
- The Argentine superstar’s 80th goal for Miami takes his career tally to 899, leaving him just one away from reaching the 900-goal milestone
WASHINGTON, United States: Lionel Messi moved to the brink of another goalscoring milestone as Inter Miami bagged their second win of the Major League Soccer season with a 2-1 victory over DC United on Saturday.
Messi, who scored twice in Miami’s Florida derby win over Orlando last week, bagged his third goal of the season with a deft chipped finish in the 27th minute at Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
The Argentine superstar’s 80th goal for Miami takes his career tally to 899, leaving him just one away from reaching the 900-goal milestone.
The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner, who turns 39 in June, scored 672 goals for Barcelona earlier in his career and 32 at Paris Saint-Germain, with a further 115 international goals for Argentina.
Saturday’s win moved the reigning MLS champions up the Eastern Conference standings into third place with six points from three games.
Miami, who on Thursday were guests of President Donald Trump at a White House reception, took the lead in the 17th minute with a superb curling shot from the edge of the area by Messi’s Argentina team-mate Rodrigo De Paul.
Messi then doubled Miami’s lead 10 minutes later, latching on to a sublime through ball from Mateo Silvetti and dinking a first-time finish over the advancing DC United goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
United rallied after half-time, and were given hope when Israeli forward Tai Baribo pulled a goal back in the 75th minute.
Miami though were able to hold off United in the closing stages to seal victory.
