Griffiths brilliant as Beijing sink Victory

Former A-League star Joel Griffiths has again sunk old enemies Melbourne Victory, scoring the winner for his Chinese club Beijing Guoan in a 1-0 Asian Champions League triumph.

Griffiths netted a superb 50th minute winner at the Beijing Workers Stadium to get the Victory’s ACL campaign off to a rocky start.

The former Newcastle Jets striker took a sublime first touch in the penalty box, ghosted through Victory defenders Kevin Muscat and Rodrigo Vargas and slotted home for the winner.

Griffiths, who boasted a goal every two games record against Melbourne while playing for the Jets, was outstanding for the home side as Beijing Guoan dominated for long periods.

Melbourne lifted in the final 20 minutes to create several good chances – the best squandered by striker Nik Mrdja two minutes from time as he was unable to control a ball which found him just metres from goal.

The Victory started promisingly and could have had an early lead with the busy Tom Pondeljak’s long-range shot well stopped by Beijing goalkeeper Yang Zhi on 27 minutes.

But that signalled the start of a long patch of dominance by the home side – Griffiths instrumental as his off-the-ball work combined with some deft touches had the visitors backpedalling from midway through the first half.

Griffiths had a 34th minute shot headed off the line by Victory defender Surat Sukha, with Pondeljak seconds later having to throw his body in the way of the rebound attempt by Brazilian striker Otto.

Beijing striker Zhu Yifan shot wide when he should have done better in the 38th minute, while Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak made an important save just prior to the break to deny Otto.

After Griffiths struck early in the second half, the former A-League player of the year could have had a second in the 68th minute but for Langerak’s intervention as the ex-Socceroo striker bore down on his goal.

In the other Group E match to open the competition on Tuesday night, Korea’s Seongnam Ilhwa beat Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-0.

The Victory, who are currently involved in the A-League finals, play their next ACL fixture against Seongnam Ilhwa in Melbourne on March 9.

That will be played just two days after Melbourne’s A-League major semi-final second leg against Sydney FC which will decide who makes the grand final.

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