Evergrande makes history in Guangzhou

Football players of Guangzhou Evergrande toss up their Italian coach Marcello Lippi to celebrate the winning of the AFC Champions League against South Korea's FC Seoul at Tianhe stadium in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou Nov 9, 2013.[Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande rewrote China's soccer history in more than a decade by claiming the title of AFC Champions League on Saturday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

Brazilian striker Elkeson's goal in the 58th minute helped the Guangzhou side secure the continental title at the Tianhe Stadium thanks to the advantage of one away goal two weeks ago.

It was back to 1990 when the country last and for the only time tasted a continental success as Liaoning lifted the trophy of the now-defunct Asian Club Championship.

Prior to the continental success, the Guangzhou side has claimed the domestic league title three times since it was taken over by local property giant Evergrande Real Estate Group three years ago.

"I have a strong willingness to help China win a champion outside the domestic league in my career in China. And we are well prepared for the final,"said Marcello Lippi, who began managing the Guangzhou side in May last year.

At the Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou was leveled 1-1 by a goal from Dejan Damjanovic of South Korean champion FC Seoul only four minutes after Elkeson's. But one more away goal at the first leg, in which the Guangzhou side held a 2-2 draw in Seoul two weeks ago helped secure the Asian title for the Guangzhou side.