Guoan coast into FA Cup quarters

Defending champions Renhe suffer big home defeat

Defending champions Guizhou Renhe were eliminated from the Chinese FA Cup on Wednesday as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to visiting Beijing Guoan.

It was Renhe's second big loss in four days. On Sunday, they were defeated by the Chinese Super League's (CSL) bottom side Harbin Yiteng 4-0 in the league. Guoan also lost their game to Henan Jianye the same day.

Guoan's bounce back started from Montenegrin forward Dejan Damjanovic, who scored his first goal for the club with a header in the 26th minute after a corner from Zhang Xizhe.

Teammate Shao Jiayi scored another header just six minutes after the break. Then Zhang stretched the lead to three goals as he nailed a penalty nine minutes after the hour mark.

Local fans defected, shouting "4-0" and demanding Renhe coach Zhu Jiong resign after the scoreboard showed 3-0.

Guoan get a showdown with Shandong Luneng, who edged Guangzhou R&F 1-0 on Wednesday, in the quarterfinal.

Guoan coach Gregorio Manzano said the loss to Jianye on Sunday was not due to bad defense but the team's poor performance, and it was the right attitude not the improving of defense that gave his side Wednesday's win.

"We took this game seriously, and we never loosened up," said the Spaniard. "The result is fair."

Speaking of Dejan, the 58-year-old praised his performance in giving his side the opening goal, and expects the former Jiangsu Sainty forward to do more in the future.

"I'm happy for what he did today," Manzano said. "It's a big help for him blending into the squad."

Earlier on Wednesday, Qingdao -Jonoon knocked CSL side Hangzhou Greentown out of the event, winning 4-3 in a penalty shootout.

Greentown coach Yang Ji even brought on their reserve keeper at the end of normal time, but substitute goalie Huang Yuandong, who saved one spot kick in the shootout, was overshadowed by his Jonoon counterpart Liu Zhenli who saved two.

Jonoon, from second-tier China League One, will face another CSL team in the quarterfinal. They host Sainty, who eased past Lijiang Jiayunhao 2-1 on Wednesday.

CSL team Shanghai Greenland edged Yanbian Quanyangquan 2-1. A controversial penalty was given to Greenland as replays showed winger Cao Yunding was fouled outside of the box but the referee gave a penalty in the 58th minute.

Greenland captain Giovanni Moreno scored the penalty but it was canceled by the referee due to infringements by -attacking players. Moreno wasted his second try as the ball went well over.

His bad luck was yet to come to an end as a blunder in midfield eight minutes after the penalty offered the hosts chance to equalize the game. Thanks to substitute Wang Fei's volley in the 71st minute, Greenland regained the lead and managed to hold on till the final whistle.

Also on Wednesday, Guangzhou -Evergrande's Italian star Alessandro -Diamanti was given a four-game CSL ban as he was caught raising his middle finger during the league game against Luneng on Sunday, according to Soccer News website.

Evergrande are set to visit Jianye in Thursday's FA Cup game.