Jiangsu holds off Adelaide to maintain 100% start

Jiangsu Suning forward Roger Martínez competes with opponents against Adelaide United in the AFC Champions League. [Photo/Xinhua]

Jiangsu Suning secured a second consecutive win in the AFC Champions League and now top Group H after an inconsistent 2-1 victory over A-League side Adelaide United on March 2.

Brazilian forward Alex Teixeira gave the home side the advantage after 14 minutes, pouncing on a mistake by Adeleide United goalkeeper Daniel Margush.

The Chinese Super League (CSL) team, managed by Korean Choi Yong-soo, dominated much of the first half with tireless pressing and opportunistic attacking forcing the Australian side onto the back foot.

However, despite several decent goal scoring chances falling to Ramires and Teixeira early in the second half the team that finished second in the CSL last season failed to double their advantage.

Having been fortunate in the manner of their win away to Korean side Jeju United in the first round of matches, Choi's side once again rode its luck with a disallowed goal in the 68th minutethreatening to undermine the side's hard work.

However, Teixeira had different ideas and took the game thoroughly by the horns on the 70th minute with a slaloming rampage down the left-hand that finished with the ball nestled between the goalkeeper's legs and in the back of the net.

Jiangsu came under heavy attack in the closing stages of the game and conceded a sloppy goal when the team in light blue failed to adequately close down Tarek Elrich who pinpointed a cross onto the head of substituteEli Babalj setting up a dramatic final couple of minutes. Fortunately for Nanjing, Hong Jeong-ho was perfectly placed to make a goal-saving tackle in the final minute of the game and ensure the victory.

Jiangsu Suning's next match in the AFC Champions League is away to Japanese side Gamba Osaka on March 15.