Guangzhou Evergrande thrash Osaka 5-1

Guangzhou Evergrande thrash Osaka 5-1

China's Guangzhou Evergrande was in Japan to take on Cerezo Osaka for leg one of their round of 16 tie. And defending champions Evergrande, would put on a goal scoring fiesta and have all but booked their place for the round of 8, after a brilliant display on the road.

Chinese supporters would have a night to celebrate at Osaka. With a team boasting the strong Brazilian frontline duo of Elkeson and Muriqui, Marcello Lippi was looking for a strong showing from his boys. Osaka...looking to their Uruguayan star Diego Forlan who had four goals in his last four games to lead the way.

Visiting Evergrande opened the scoring after 22 minutes. Alessandro Diamanti sends Muriqui clear for a low shot. It was 1-0. Muriqui, rounding into form after a slow start to the season. But Osaka pulled level on the half hour mark. Diego Forlan finds Aria Hasegawa for a goal in the area. It was 1-all.

Evergrande would be awarded penalty only four minutes later when Elkeson was brought down in the box. The Brazilian forward then steps up from the spot and buries, to restore the one-goal lead for Guangzhou.

The holders showed no signs of holding back and extended the lead in the 37th. Elkeson heads in the free-kick from Diamanti for his second to make it 3-1.

Osaka coudn't match Guangzhou and were beaten again in the 78th, Gao Lin easily taps in from close range to make it 4-1. The Chinese veteran, sharing the moment with the fans traveling to Japan.

Muriqui then sealed a dominant 5-1 victory six minutes from time. Evergrande will now take their huge advantage back home for the second leg at the Tianhe stadium next week.