Two-time AFC Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande stunned debutant Eastern SC 7-0 in Group G on Wednesday.
The match turned into a disaster for the Hong Kong visitors when Wong Tsz-ho was sent off just three minutes after the opening whistle for a handball on the goal line, only to see Ricardo Goulart send the keeper wrong way at the penalty spot.
Wang Shangyan doubled the lead in the 22nd minute from a loose ball after Yapp Hung-fai saved Alan's shot.
Liao Lisheng netted in the 33rd minute and Eastern was down to nine men after Wong Chi-chung was sent off on 34 minutes.
The second half saw the home side dominate the game with ease and comfort. Liao Lisheng, Alan, Paulinho and Wang Shangyuan refreshed the scoreboard four times and made the final score 7-0.
"The two red cards in the first half completely ruined our plan," said Eastern coach Chan Yuen-ting, who was the first-ever female coach to lead a men's team at a continental competition.
"Many of our players are too young, we made many mistakes, I hope we can learn from these mistakes in our next matches," she added.
Guangzhou Evergrande coach Luiz Scolari admitted his team had benefited from the early red cards.
"It was not a normal match, because our opponents were two men down in the first half, we took advantage of that," the Brazilian said.
