Marcello Lippi appologises after pitch invasion

Marcello Lippi stands in the press conference after the match to express his rage and dissatisfaction about the results on Wednesday, August 20,2014. [Photo: gb.cri.cn]

In the Asian Champions League, the two coaches of a highly heated match have spoken out after it ended in controversy.

The Chinese defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande were one-nil down playing away to the Western Sydney Wanderers when they had TWO players given straight red cards during the closing stages of the game.

Boiling with rage the side's Italian Coach Marcello Lippi stormed onto the pitch.

Still fuming in a press conference, after scenes of players and coaches pushing around match officials, the world cup winning manager with Italy tried to explain his actions:

"I was angry and that's why I ran on the field to ask why, why? I shouldn't have done that I am the coach and I shouldn't run on the field. After the game I tried to apologise. I have been involved in some of the most important football games in the world like the World Cup and the Champions League, all these competitions. I just wanted to ask him for an explanation and I wanted to apologise but they wouldn't let me."

The Wanderers coach Tony Popovic was thrilled with the win and had no sympathy for Lippi however.

Popovic says, "We all disagree with decisions that referees make. We voice our opinion from the sideline but we don't run on the pitch and manhandle a player, so that I can't accept."

The return leg takes place in Guangzhou next Wednesday (August 27), with the winners facing FC Seoul or Pohang Steelers both from South Korea.