Indonesian club Sriwijaya have caused a major upset in the group stage of the Asian Champions League. Before last night, Sriwijaya were winless and had a goal difference of minus 19 and it seemed a formality that Shandong Luneng would defeat them and move into the round of 16 in the competition, especially after they were up 2-0 at half-time.
However, Sriwijaya came out and blasted four second-half goals to eventually run out 4-2 winners in a performance that may come back to haunt Shandong.
Han Peng opened the scoring for the Chinese club in the 42nd minute before Gao Di added a second just a minute later.
But the second half was a different story as Sriwijaya ran riot.
Keith Gumbs got one back eight minutes after the re-start and when Liberian midfielder Zah Krangar equalised in the 73rd minute, the match lifted a notch.
Sriwijaya pushed forward and managed to hit the lead through Krangar who was on the end of a nice run from Gumbs, stunning the Shandong players.
Three minutes from time, a fourth was added to put the nail in the Shandong coffin.
Mohammad Nasuha hit a low shot past Li Leilei to give the Indonesians and unlikely win and deny the Chinese outfit any further action in the ACL.
Match details: Sriwijaya 4 d. Shandong Luneng2
Attendance: 15,000
Scorers: SRI - Keith Gumbs '53, Zah Rahan Krangar '72, '80, Mohammad Nasuha '87 SHA - Han Peng '42, Gao Di '43.
