Football | Guangzhou beats Gamba 2-1 in 1st leg of ACL semifinals

Zheng Zhi scored the winning goal as Guangzhou Evergrande beat Gamba Osaka 2-1 in the first leg of the Asian Champions League semifinals yesterday.
Gamba welcomed the return of the J-League’s top scorer Takashi Usami, who missed his team’s 3-2 win over Jeonbuk Motors due to suspension
The visitors took a 1-0 lead following an own goal by Guangzhou defender Feng Xiaoting in the 12th minute at Tianhe Sport Center Stadium.
Huang Bowen equalized for the hosts 10 minutes before halftime, netting with a superb left-footed volley that beat Gamba goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi.
Zheng’s 57th minute header ensured that Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side will hold a slight advantage going into the return leg which will be played on Oct. 21. AP