GUANGZHOU Evergrande of China lost to Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan 1-0 during their AFC Champions League (ACL) group H match in Saitama, Japan, last night.

    The loss means it’s almost impossible for the defending champion to advance, Sina.com said. The side stays at the bottom of the group after the match, with only 2 points after four rounds of matches.

    Guangzhou missed two scoring chances in the first half.

    After Huang Bowen tested the Japanese goalkeeper with a right-foot curve in the fourth minute, Jackson Martinez missed the loose ball in the penalty spot.

    In the 24th minute, Yuki Moto had a chance to give the home side a lead but his long shot was denied by Evergrande goalkeeper Zeng Cheng.

    In the 37th minute, Ricardo Goulart’s effort was deflected by a Urawa defender and narrowly went off the left post.

    AFC Champions League holder Evergrande went into its match yesterday knowing that anything less than a win will see the side bow out of the tournament at the earliest stage.

    Ahead of the game against Urawa Red Diamonds, Evergrande was at the bottom of Group H without a win in its first three games.

    A win will lift the side to at least third and give it a slim chance of progression. In its last tie, also against Urawa, the side relinquished a two goal lead to draw 2-2 at home.

    Evergrande players arrive in Japan on the back of a 2-0 win against rival Guangzhou R&F last Friday, but manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is under no illusions regarding his side’s chances. “If we win, we have a chance. If we lose, we will be out of the Champions League,” admitted the World Cup-winning coach.(SD-Xinhua)