AN injury-time penalty rocked the AFC Champions League hopes of 10-man Guangzhou Evergrande on Wednesday as the favorite side went down 2-1 to Seongnam FC in the last 16 first leg.

    Fabio Cannavaro’s 2013 winners recovered from going an early goal down and despite a red card to Li Xuepeng, the wealthy Chinese club looked set to escape with a 1-1 draw.

    However, Seongnam skipper Kim Do-heon held his nerve to score from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of injury time to seal the win for the South Korean side.

    Fellow K League side FC Seoul endured a miserable night in the Korean capital, however, going down 1-3 to Japan’s Gamba Osaka. Seoul had not conceded in its previous six home games in the competition, but Gamba ended that defensive record with a superb counter-attacking display.

    Seongnam is the only one of South Korea’s four teams in Asia’s elite club competition to come away with a home win after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors drew 1-1 with Chinese Super League’s Beijing Guoan and Suwon Samsung Bluewings went down 2-3 to another Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol on Tuesday.

    Seongnam went ahead in the 23rd minute at Tancheon Sports Complex after Kim drifted into the box and fed Jorginho, who fired home first time.

    There seemed little danger when Guangzhou’s Huang Bowen picked the ball up 30 meters from goal but the midfielder cracked home a stunning strike to bring his side level just before the break. He ran all the way to the touchline to celebrate with coach Fabio Cannavaro.

    Guangzhou was reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Li Xuepeng was dealt a straight red for raking his studs down the arm of Ricardo as the two contested a high ball.

    Just when it seemed the Chinese side, the winner of the prestigious trophy in 2013, would hold on for the draw, Seongnam was awarded a penalty when Ricardo went down in the box, though it was difficult to see where the contact occurred.

    While several of his teammates could not bear to watch, captain Kim shrugged off the pressure to fire home the spot kick.

    It sparked celebrations for Seongnam but the Koreans still have much work to do away next week, especially if Guangzhou welcomes back the injured Brazilian trio of Elkeson, Alan and Rene Junior.(SD-Agencies)