Shanghai held in Champions League

Source: Agencies  |   2009-5-6  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

ARGENTINE striker Hernan Barcos scored in injury time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Shanghai Shenhua at Singapore Armed Forces in the Asian Champions League yesterday.

Singapore earned its first point of the competition after taking the lead in the 29th minute with a brilliant volley by Ahmad Latiff from 25 yards out.

"Getting a point in the ACL is a fantastic achievement by the team, so even one point is like three points to us," Armed Forces coach Richard Bok said.

Armed Forces had scored just two goals and allowed 15 in its four previous ACL games.

Shanghai is in third place in Group G with seven points in five matches, with its two wins coming at home.

"We seem to have a problem with scoring in our away matches," Shanghai coach Jia Xiuquan said.

Kashima Antlers of Japan leads the group on 12 points, with South Korea's Suwon Bluewings second on nine. Shanghai beat Armed Forces 4-1 in China on March 11.

Elsewhere, two goals from Ma Leilei helped host Tianjin Teda secure a comfortable 3-1 win over group leaders Kawasake Frontale yesterday, but the victory was not enough to send the Chinese team into the second round.

The win gave Tianjin five points in Group H, but with one game left, the north China team trails South Korea's Pohang Steelers on nine points and Kawasake of Japan with 10 points.

A long-range pile driver of a shot from Ma opened the scoring in the 11th minute, and he doubled the score seven minutes later.