Cerezo boss disappointed despite Champions League win
Reuters - Thursday 03 March 2011, 05:10
SINGAPORE - On loan Brazilian midfielder
Rodrigo Pimpao scored twice for Cerezo Osaka in their 2-1 Asian
Champions League win over Arema Indonesia but the Japanese
side's coach was disappointed by the margin of the debut
victory.
"It was our first international tournament and I am happy
with this win," Cerezo's Brazilian coach Levir Culpi told
reporters. "This win has a significant meaning as this is now in
our club history.
"But I am not satisfied with the scoreline, we should have
scored more. To get through the group stage, we may come up with
a situation that involves goal difference."
Jeonbuk Motors joined Cerezo at the top of Group G after the
2006 winners beat Chinese champions Shandong Luneng 1-0 at
Jeonju World Cup Stadium.
Elsewhere, last year's runners-up Zob Ahan rebounded from a
poor start to kick-off their Group D campaign with a 2-1 home
win over Emirates.
Nabil Daoudi put the United Arab Emirates side in front
after just six minutes but Seyed Mohammad Hosseini and Igor
Castro replied for the Iranians.
"I confess that we didn't play well enough in the opening
half, although we created some chances," Zob coach Mansour
Ebrahimzadeh said.
"Emirates gradually tired in the second-half and we took
advantage of their lack of strength. We got better after the
break and we can get better game by game."
Twice champions Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia also recorded an
opening victory when two goals from Abdelmalek Ziaya helped them
to a 3-1 win over Piroozi of Iran.
However, South Koreans Suwon Bluewings had to settle for a
point from their Group H clash with Sydney FC, playing out a 0-0
draw despite the Australians being reduced to 10-men after just
33 minutes.