Nigerian international, Peter Utaka, was on target for Beijing Guoan in their 2-1 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in Group F of the Asian Champions League Group.
The former OB Odense player rounded goalkeeper Liam Reddy to grab the match winner in the 63rd minute after veteran striker, Shao Jiayi, had put the Chinese club ahead just second before half-time with an unstoppable low drive.
Eddy Bosnar and Glen Tifiro had both hit the woodwork for Central Coast before Utaka’s goal, but the Australians did pull one back through a Nick Fitzgerald penalty with five minutes left.
Beijing Guoan hung on for their first win in the competition this season, which puts them top on five points, one ahead of Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima and FC Seoul.
Meanwhile, Sanfrecce put themselves on level points with FC Seoul, last year’s runners-up, with a 2-1 home win, which ended their frustrating eight-game winless run in the competition.
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