The better Guangzhou Evergrande did not take advantage of the start of the first half. In the 10th minute, Wagner drove a free kick from the right side of the field into the penalty area. Cleo failed to jump for the header and instead interfered with his teammates' defense. The ball bounced back and he drilled it into the far corner, leaving Guangzhou Evergrande 0-1 down on the road. Trailing in the score, Guangzhou Evergrande fought back strongly, but did not score in the first half.
In the 58th minute, Sun Xiang crossed diagonally from the left, Kondo Naoya made a low mistake when clearing the ball, and Muric scored his 10th AFC Champions League goal of the season with a powerful left-footed shot to level the score at 1-1.
After that, Guangzhou Evergrande made further efforts. In the 67th minute, Elkeson's shot in front of the penalty area was blocked, and Kongka's left foot rubbed the left post of the goal into the net, Guangzhou Evergrande reversed Kashiwa Reysol 2-1. In the 82nd minute, Conca opened the right corner kick. Elkeson stabbed it with his right foot under the defense of two opposing players, and Guangzhou Evergrande took a 3-1 lead. After the match, the official technical report of AFC determined that the goal was scored by Conca.
In the first minute of full-time added time, Muric swung in a header from the front of the box. Quickly following up, Muric shook goalkeeper Takanori Sugino before launching into an empty net. He made it a two-goal plum to make it 4-1 and take the win away from the home of the opposing Devils, setting the stage for an eventual run to the final and the title.
Ten years have passed and the tycoons who once played in the Central League have fallen! Introducing the 14 players who represented Guangzhou Evergrande at the time where are they now?
Currently, Zheng Zhi serves as an assistant coach of the national soccer team and is attending professional coach training in Dalian. Zhang Linmiao, who returned to his old hometown of Shanghai Harbor.
This season, Brazilian-born, bloodless naturalized player Elkeson, renamed Eckerson, joined netball team Chengdu Rongcheng.
Three decorated veterans naturalized in Guangzhou have been swept aside. Zeng Cheng is now living in Shanghai Shenhua's reserve team, and Feng Xiaoting joined China's first division team Dongguan Union. After leaving Shenzhen, he became a free agent.
Muric scored twice and now plays for Brazilian C-League side Remo, Rong Hao left Guangzhou to become a free agent and Zhao Xuri plays for Guangxi Pingguo in the Central League.
Kim Young-Gwon, who had been working towards a World Cup appearance in the Guangzhou Evergrande match, plays for South Korean K-League side Ulsan Hyundai.
Currently, Sun Xiang is the vice president of Shanghai Harbour Football Club, Zhao Peng is the deputy secretary general of Zhengzhou Football Association, and there is no latest news about Kongka and Huang Bowen for the time being.
