Guangzhou R&F upset Gamba Osaka in AFC Champions League

With both Abderrazak Hamed-Allah and Wang Song scoring, AFC Champions League debutant Guangzhou R&F seized a 2-0 away victory in group F over the 2008 champions Gamba Osaka on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Moroccan beat the home team keeper Masaaki Higashiguchi after breaking through from the left wing in the 10th minute. Wang sealed the victory for the Chinese side by a deflected free-kick in the 78th minute.

"We beat a very good team tonight, the strongest team in this group," Guangzhou R&F coach Contra Cosmin Marius said.

"We scored very fast, we suffered a lot but we defended very well and waited for opportunity, we scored a lucky goal in the second half. The three points are very important," he added.

Guangzhou broke the deadlock early in the game. Hamed-Allah slotted the ball through the legs of keeper Higashiguchi after dribbling along the left sideline from midfield.

The Japanese side maintained 68 percent ball possession and made seven attempts in the first half. However, Guangzhou R&F's keeper Liu Dianzuo made three saves to keep a clean sheet for the Chinese side.

It is Liu who sent the home team into desperation in the second half. He saved Kurata Shu's long range shot in the 48th minute and stopped Patric's goalbound header in the 67th minute.

Guangzhou R&F killed the match as Wang's deflected free-kick sent the keeper no chance in the 78th minute.

R&F's victory marked the first away win for the Chinese clubs against Gamba Osaka, who beat Dalian 3-0 in 2006, Shandong 3-0 in 2008, Tianjin 2-0 in 2011 and tied Henan 1-1 in 2010.

"No doubt we have a good match. But I think we had a little bit advantage, we already played two official matches before this game, and they were still in the pre-season," said Contra.