Jackson Martinez gets empty feeling in Guangzhou Evergrande debut in top regional club competition
Colombian striker’s career gets off to a torrid start as AFC Champions League title-holders are held to a scoreless draw
Record signing Jackson Martinez’s Guangzhou Evergrande career got off to a torrid start on Wednesday, when the AFC Champions League title-holders were held 0-0 by Pohang Steelers in front of an empty stadium.
The Colombian striker, signed for €42 million (HK$359.6 million) this month from Atletico Madrid, failed to ignite a disjointed Evergrande attack as the deep-pocketed Chinese club’s Asian title defence started slowly.
Martinez, 30, had little joy, but he was denied a dramatic winner in the very last move of the game when he forced a close-range save and then a clearance off the line by Pohang defender Kim Kwang-suk.
The home fixture was played behind closed doors as punishment for Evergrande’s transgressions surrounding last year’s Champions League final, including filming a closed training session by their opponents Al Ahli.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari angrily prowled the touchline on a night when Evergrande ceded the early group H leadership to Urawa Red Diamonds, who beat Sydney FC 2-0.