Guangzhou Evergrande secured their first victory of the season as they defeated Beijing Guoan 2-1 in the Chinese Super League (CSL) relegation match on Sunday.
The game was a closely contested affair, with both teams showing great skill and determination throughout. However, it was Guangzhou who ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to two goals from Brazilian striker Edson Buddle in the second half.
Buddle's first goal came after just eight minutes when he capitalized on a defensive mistake by Beijing Guoan goalkeeper Zhang Xiujuan, slotting home from close range.
The second goal came five minutes later, with Guangzhou breaking through the Beijing Guoan defense again, this time finding Buddle unmarked at the back post to tap home.
Despite the loss, Beijing Guoan were praised for their performance, with coach Lu Zhenying acknowledging that his team gave everything in the match.
"I am proud of my players," Lu said. "We fought hard and showed our fighting spirit. I hope we can learn from this experience and come back stronger next time."
In contrast, Guangzhou manager Li Tie acknowledged the importance of securing three points ahead of the remaining fixtures.
"We knew it would be difficult against such a strong opponent," Li said. "But we managed to secure the win, which is important for us going forward."
As for the future, both teams will now focus on their remaining games in the CSL, with Guangzhou hoping to continue their winning form while Beijing Guoan will be looking to bounce back from defeat.
Overall, it was a thrilling match between two sides battling for their survival in the CSL, with both teams leaving it all on the pitch.