BEIJING — New signing Alessandro Diamanti starred with two magical strikes as AFC Champions League title-holder Guangzhou Evergrande fought back from two goals down to beat Melbourne Victory 4-2 Wednesday. In a dream debut, the 30-year-old Italian international inspired a rousing second-half comeback as the Marcello Lippi-led Chinese champion opened its trophy defense in style. A goal from Karim Ansarifard with eight minutes remaining saw 10-man Tractorsazi Tabriz earn a narrow 1-0 victory in Group C against two-time champion Al-Ittihad Club Jeddah at Yadegar Emam Stadium in Tabriz. The departure of influential midfielder Dario Conca had raised questions about Guangzhou but his replacement, Diamanti, quickly settled those doubts with a memorable performance at a packed Tianhe Stadium. First-half goals from Pablo Contreras and Leigh Broxham threatened a huge upset in Group G but after the break, Guangzhou scored four sparkling goals in 26 minutes through Huang Bowen, Elkeson and Diamanti. Both sides had early chances with Victory's Mark Milligan and Guangzhou Evergrande forcing top-drawer saves at opposite ends of the pitch around the quarter-hour mark. Despite playing over half an hour with just 10 men following the dismissal on 60 minutes of playmaker Ali Karimi, Iran's Tabriz netted the game's only goal through Ansarifard to deny the former Saudi champion. Prior to Ansarifard's late winner, the story had been all about Al-Ittihad custodian Abdulaziz Al-Tukruni who put on a goalkeeping masterclass and kept out the dominant Iran Pro League side with a variety of spectacular saves. Indeed, Al-Tukurni's goal was under threat. After the restart too there was no respite for the busy Saudi goalkeeper. Evergreen veteran Karimi had been dictating much of the home side's play, but on the hour mark he received his second yellow of the match following a late challenge and was given his marching orders by referee Liu Kwok Man. The man advantage lifted the visiting side but Ansarifard stole the show with a late winner. Earlier, Australian debutants Western Sydney Wanderers had a harsh welcome to the competition when they threw away an early lead to lose 3-1 at home to 2012 champion Ulsan Hyundai. The Wanderers scored after just 42 seconds at home through Brendon Santalab, but the South Koreans punished defensive mistakes to score through Kim Shin-wook, Ko Chang-hyun and Kang Min-soo. Also in Group H, Brazilian midfielder scored from a first-half free-kick as Japan's Kawasaki Frontale kick-started its campaign with a 1-0 home win over Guizhou Renhe of China. In the other Group G game, 2006 winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors scored three times in 10 second-half minutes as they beat Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos 3-0. In other matches, Al-Sadd Qatar edged Sepahan of Iran 1-0 and Al-ain UAE-Lekhwia Qatar match ended in a 1-1 draw. – Agencies
