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Thursday, March 07, 2019, 11:33
Beijing Guoan lose to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in ACL
By Xinhua
Thursday, March 07, 2019, 11:33 By Xinhua

Beijing FC's Chi Zhongguo (front right) vies with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Hong Jeong-Ho during a Group G match between China's Beijing FC and South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the 2019 AFC Champions League in Jeonju, South Korea, March 6. (LEE SANGHO / XINHUA)

SEOUL - Chinese Super League side Beijing Guoan lost their opening match in Group G of the 2019 AFC Champions League, as they were defeated 3-1 by South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors here on Wednesday.

In their first Champions League match since 2015, Guoan started with all four of their overseas players, including Kim Min-Jae, who faced his former club. Jeonbuk surprisingly benched striker Kim Shin-Wook in favor of veteran Lee Dong-Gook.

Guoan leveled in the 41st minute as Jonathan Viera pulled back from the byline for Zhang Xizhe, who beat keeper Song Bum-Keun with a first-time strike

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Guoan had the first attempt on goal, as hitman Cedric Bakambu's angled drive flew wide.

However, the hosts broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Han Kyo-Won shook off Guoan's defense and sent the ball into an empty net from a tight angle.

Guoan leveled in the 41st minute as Jonathan Viera pulled back from the byline for Zhang Xizhe, who beat keeper Song Bum-Keun with a first-time strike.

Jeonbuk restored their lead just two minutes into the second-half, after Han Kyo-Won drew out goalkeeper Zou Dehai and squared for Lee Dong-Gook to slide in.

Lee continued his fearsome form as his header forced Zou into a good save, before his curling shot from distance hit the woodwork.

READ MORE: Beijing Guoan lifts 2018 CFA Cup trophy with away goals advantage

Jeonbuk extended their lead to 3-1 in the 71st minute, after Lee set up substitute Kim Shin-Wook to steer his header into the top corner.

Guoan's coach Roger Schmidt said: "Jeonbuk played a good match, they exploited our mistakes and punished us. We lost the tempo after 1-3 and they did have a better performance than us."

Guoan's next Champions League match will be at home to Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds on March 13.

Beijing FC's Zhang Xizhe (left) vies for the ball during a Group G match between China's Beijing FC and South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the 2019 AFC Champions League in Jeonju, South Korea, March 6. (LEE SANGHO / XINHUA)

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