China's Shandong Luneng players celebrate a goal against
Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An during their AFC Champions League game in Jinan, east
China's Shandong Province April 11. Shandong trounced Long An 4-0 in its third
winning streak, topping the Group G with 9 points.[Newsphoto]
Shandong Luneng's coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic was less than satisfied with his
team's performance despite trouncing Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An 4-0 during
their AFC Champions League game in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province on
Wednesday evening.
"The players didn't play at their normal level, and they didn't stick to my
strategy," Tumbakovic said. "I asked them to control the ball and put
constant pressure on the opponent but obviously they didn't do that
well."
"If we play against the two stronger teams in the group in the same manner,
we will pay the price for that," he added.
Shandong Luneng, last year's Chinese league and FA cup winners,
have made three straight wins with nine points to lead Group G at the AFC
Champions League, while their two biggest rivals Adelaide United
and Seongnam Chunma followed with four, four respectively after a 2-2
draw in Australia on the same day.
Tumbakovic continued to serve a six-game off-pitch ban on Wednesday
while his Chinese assistant Ma Baogang directed the game.
"I think three
points are much more important than a goal feast," said Ma after the match,
"Long An is a well-orgainzed team and the No. 1 in their country, and we knew it
wouldn't be an easy ride."
"The players controlled the ball more and ran more in the second half after
being told to play more aggressively," Ma added, "They lived up to coaches'
and fans' expectations after the interval."
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