HONG KONG — Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande expects to sweep into the AFC Champions League semifinals when it hosts Kashiwa Reysol Tuesday with its 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 quarterfinal 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 quarterfinal 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 is not the only team with a mountain to climb Tuesday as Lekhwiya of Qatar will also 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 it hosts Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with the tie deadlocked at 0-0 draw after the first leg. Later Wednesday, UAE's Al-Ahli will defend a narrow 1-0 advantage when it entertains Iran's Naft Tehran in Dubai. Mourinho clashes with Martinez Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho swore at Everton boss Roberto Martinez after being made to wait for his post-match news conference following the champion's 3-1 loss at Goodison Park Saturday, according to British media reports. A furious Mourinho decided to interrupt Martinez while he was speaking with a group of journalists near the pitch. As manager of the away team, Mourinho had expected to be allowed to address the media first so that his team could set off on its journey back to West London, reports said. “Roberto, next time tell me go before you because we have to travel,” Mourinho was quoted as saying in the reports. “We don't control that, Jose. I don't control that,” Martinez said in reply. To which Mourinho responded with an expletive. “When he beat us 6-3 (last season), he was such a nice man. I prefer him like that,” Martinez said after the Chelsea boss stormed away. The loss to Everton, courtesy of a Steven Naismith hat trick, was Chelsea's third defeat in five Premier League games and it now sits fourth from bottom in the table. The relationship between the clubs was already strained after Chelsea's public pursuit of defender John Stones, who had his transfer request rejected by the Merseyside club. Chelsea will host London rivals Arsenal, which beat Stoke City 2-0 during the weekend, Saturday. — Agencies
