BEIJING, May?7 (Xinhuanet) -- China's Guangzhou Evergrande was in Japan tonight, to take on Cerezo Osaka for leg one of their round of 16 tie. And defending champions Evergrande, would put on a goal scoring fiesta and have all but booked their place for the round of 8, after a brilliant display on the road.
Chinese supporters would have a night to celebrate at Osaka. With a team boasting the strong Brazilian frontline duo of Elkeson and Muriqui, Marcello Lippi was looking for a strong showing from his boys. Osaka...looking to their Uruguayan star Diego Forlan who had four goals in his last four games to lead the way.
Visiting Evergrande opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Alessandro Diamanti sends Muriqui clear for a low shot. It was 1-0. Muriqui, rounding into form after a slow start to the season. But Osaka pulled level on the half hour mark. Diego Forlan finds Aria Hasegawa for a goal in the area. It was 1-all.
Evergrande would be awarded penalty only four minutes later when Elkeson was brought down in the box. The Brazilian forward then steps up from the spot and buries, to restore the one-goal lead for Guangzhou.
The holders showed no signs of holding back and extended the lead in the 37th. Elkeson heads in the free-kick from Diamanti for his second to make it 3-1.
Osaka coudn't match Guangzhou and were beaten again in the 78th, Gao Lin easily taps in from close range to make it 4-1. The Chinese veteran, sharing the moment with the fans traveling to Japan.
Muriqui then sealed a dominant 5-1 victory six minutes from time. Evergrande will now take their huge advantage back home for the second leg at the Tianhe stadium next week.
Pohang take leg one 2-1 on the road
Also tonight, the Korean Round of 16 derby between Jeonbuk Motors and the Pohang Steelers began. Jeonbuk, at home for leg one.
After a scoreless first half, the match came to life in the 54th minute when Jeonbuk's Lee Jae-sung scores with a power header to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
But the visiting side equalized only four minutes later. Son Jun-ho blasting from a tight angle to make it 1-1. Son's effort, too much for the keeper to handle.
Pohang would then complete the comeback 16 minutes from time. Go Moo-yul slips one inside the far post to seal the 2-1 victory to the Steelers who return home as big favorites ahead of leg two.