Beijing Guoan just need a point to reach AFC Champions League round of 16
Capital club denied a fourth straight win in group stage after being held to 1-1 draw by Japanese side Urawa Reds
Tomoaki Makino’s goal 16 minutes from time denied Beijing Guoan a fourth straight win in the AFC Champions League, but their 1-1 draw with Urawa Reds on Wednesday night saw the capital soccer club move a step closer to a place in the knockout phase.
The point secured from the draw with the J.League side takes Beijing to 10 points from four games, leaving Gregorio Manzano’s side needing only a point from their final two group G fixtures to reach the round of 16 for the second time in three seasons.
We’d like to qualify for the next stage by winning the group, and to do so the next game against Brisbane will be important for us
China international winger Yu Dabao put Beijing in front with a close-range finish 12 minutes before the end of the first half, only for Makino to score to maintain Urawa’s slim hopes of advancing to the next phase of the competition.
“The game went as I had expected,” said Manzano. “We had a good performance in the first half and couldn’t score with the chances we had.
“But the Reds did well in the second half. So, I think the 1-1 result indicates the level of the two teams.
“We’d like to qualify for the next stage by winning the group, and to do so the next game against Brisbane will be important for us. However, we have to play our league matches before that game.”