Boys from Brazil lift Guangzhou's hopes

Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande expect to sweep into the AFC Champions League semi-finals when they host Kashiwa Reysol on Tuesday with their free-scoring Brazilian contingent in top form.

Guangzhou's boys from Brazil scored all three goals in Saturday's 3-0 romp against Shanghai SIPG which saw the southern side replace Sven Goran-Eriksson's men at the top of the Chinese Super League.

Robinho, Ricardo Goulart and Elkeson were all on target, while ex-Tottenham Hotspur acquisition Paulinho scored a 40-yard screamer in last month's 3-1 quarter-final first leg win at Kashiwa.

But the former Brazil World Cup-winning manager Scolari is taking nothing for granted despite the luxury of a two-goal cushion against the Japanese side.

"The atmosphere in Tianhe Sports Centre is wonderful, we have excellent supporters who always give us great support in every game," Scolari said.

"The first leg of the quarter-final was fascinating and both sides showed their own merits, although we did a better job in terms of scoring," he added. "But that has already become history, right now we have to focus on the upcoming match.

"In my opinion, Kashiwa are the strongest opponents we’ve encountered so far in my tenure as Guangzhou coach, and they will certainly make the second leg a tough game for us."

Kashiwa are not the only team with a mountain to climb on Tuesday, when Lekhwiya of Qatar will try to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Saudi side Al Hilal.

On Wednesday, Gamba Osaka will have to cope without suspended leading scorer Takashi Usami when they host Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with the tie deadlocked at 0-0 draw after the first leg.

Later on Wednesday, UAE's Al Ahli will defend a narrow 1-0 advantage when they entertain Iran's Naft Tehran in Dubai.

Source: AFP