BEIJING Guoan scored twice in five second-half minutes against Japanese side Hiroshima, but then Naoki Ishihara outdid the Beijing team with a brace in just three minutes to earn a pulsating 2-2 draw Wednesday during their AFC Champions League (ACL) match in the Chinese capital.

    Beijing went ahead against Hiroshima in dubious circumstances when Peter Utaka’s shot appeared to come off Shao Jiayi’s arm and crept over the line in a goal credited to the Chinese international.

    Shao then turned creator with a glorious no-look flick to set up explosive Ecuadorian Joffre Guerron for Beijing’s second, in what appeared enough for victory.

    But bleach-blond forward Ishihara had other ideas and fired two similar goals, both from poorly defended crosses from the left, within three minutes to earn a vital point for Hiroshima.

    Meanwhile, Thailand’s Buriram United shocked Shandong Luneng 1-0 to secure its first win of the competition and draw level with the Chinese team and Cerezo on five points in Group E.

    South Korean club Pohang Steelers beat Japan’s Cerezo Osaka 2-0 to become the first East Asian team to reach the AFC Champions League last 16.

    Pohang, the 2009 champion, led Group E by six points ahead of its final game against Thailand’s Buriram United on April 23. (SD-Agencies)