Doubly delicious for Guoan as R&F falls to first defeat

After recent struggles, Beijing Guoan returned to form with an important win against Guangzhou R&F with goals in the final minutes of each half, provided by Joffre Guerron and Shao Jiayi. The win moves Guoan level on points with leaders Guangzhou Evergrande, while R&F fall for the first time this season.

The opening half of play didn’t see a lot of chances created, but of those that were, Guoan dominated. The attack most often flowed through Guerron, who forced R&F keeper Cheng Yuelei to make a pair of difficult saves. The break would finally come just as the half was entering added time, a well placed Zhou Ting cross somehow found Guerron’s head, despite being sandwiched between two defenders, and he was able to angle it past Cheng.

Guerron thought he had another one on the other side of the half after bringing the ball down and shooting it past the keeper, though he was judged to have handled the ball and shown a yellow card. R&F did better to control the ball and push forward in the second half, but despite some good build up play, nobody was able to take a shot that seriously threatened Yang Zhi.

It was somewhat against the run of play that Guoan came close to doubling their lead, Zhang Chengdong, who has been a revelation on the right wing, charged in and got on the end of a Pablo Batalla free kick, but his header struck the post.

R&F’s hopes were all but dashed when Park Jong-Woo was shown his second yellow with 10 minutes remaining. Shao dashed what little hope remained in the 87th minute, once again it was Zhou with a good run and a low hard pass across the box that found Shao all alone. Shao’s weak shot was initially saved by Cheng, who should have done a better job of it, as he somehow allowed it to squeak past.