Chiangrai United Hold Beijing FC to End AFC Champions League Campaign on a High

Doha, December 03 (QNA) - Beijing FC completed their AFC Champions League group stage campaign with an unbeaten record, coming from behind to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw against Chiangrai United on Thursday. Chiangrai looked set to inflict Beijing's first defeat of the competition when substitute Ekanit Panya put them ahead in the 55th minute, but another replacement, Beijing's A Lan, squared the ledger with 14 minutes remaining, only to miss a penalty kick in the dying moments. Beijing entered the clash already confirmed as group winners, but Bruno Genesio handed starts to several of his key men, including Renato Augusto, Fernando and Kim Min-jae but Chiangrai defended well throughout the first half With little on the line for either side there was an understandable lack of intensity in the opening exchanges but two consecutive clashes between Chiangrais Bill and Beijing's Yang Fan injected sense of seriousness into the clash. It was a period of few clear-cut chances. Lyu Peng forced Apirak Worawong into a solid low save, and Ba Dun nearly punished the Chiangrai goalkeeper for a poorly hit goal kick, but it came as little surprise that the two teams went to the interval at 0-0. It was a different story when they resumed. Beijing withdrew Renato Augusto and Fernando, Chiangrai added Panya, and the Thai side immediately looked more threatening. They issued a warning when Sanukran Thinjom blasted a free-kick just wide in the 53rd minute, and the breakthrough arrived just two minutes later, with Panya finishing off a lovely counterattacking move involving Bill with a precise curling strike which went in off the upright to make it 1-0. Beijing's title hopes werent on the line, but they didnt want to lose their status as the tournaments form team, and they could have levelled the match within five minutes had Zhang Xizhe not blazed his effort high and wide after getting into a good position at the hour mark. Genesio introduced A Lan, formerly known as Alan Carvalho, shortly afterwards, and the Brazilian-born forward headed Beijing level in the 77th minute, touching the Yang Fans initial header beyond Apirak and into the back of the net from a few yards following a corner kick. It seemed that neither side was satisfied with a point, and Beijing were given a golden chance to take all three when Sarawut Inpan gave away a penalty for a foul in the dying moments, but A Lan slammed his spot-kick into the upright, giving Chiangrai a share of the spoils. The Thai side finished their maiden AFC Champions League campaign with five points, while Beijing will face FC Tokyo in the Round of 16 on Sunday. (QNA)