SINGAPORE, March 2 — Hangzhou Greentown coach Wu Jingui credited his team's superior stamina and low-key profile for their surprise 2-0 win over J-League champions Nagoya Grampus on the opening night of the Asian Champions League.

The Chinese side, making their debut in the tournament, scored their Group F victory with second-half goals from Honduran striker Luis Ramirez and substitute Ba Li at the Yellow Dragon Stadium yesterday.

"They were tired and they didn't know much about us," Wu told reporters of Hangzhou's opponents. "Chinese players are physically stronger than other East Asian rivals.

"I always encouraged my players to give full play to our physical strength and height."

Chinese Super League runners-up Tianjin Teda were also celebrating yesterday after they claimed a 1-0 away win over South Korean side Jeju United in the opening match of the 2011 tournament.

The Koreans controlled the Group E match for long periods at a windy Jeju World Cup Stadium but without Asian Cup top scorer Koo Ja-cheol, who moved to German side VfL Wolfsburg recently, they struggled in front of goal.

Lee Sang-hyub hit the crossbar in stoppage time but Jeju could not find an equaliser for Yu Dabao's 55th minute effort.

"The ability of Chinese teams has improved a lot and I hope that this result helps to show that," Tianjin coach Arie Haan told reporters.

Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal were also victims of a surprise opening day defeat when they lost 2-1 at home to Iranians Sepahan in Group A.

The night's biggest winners were 2008 champions Gamba Osaka, who thrashed Melbourne Victory 5-1 after some woeful defending from the Australians saw them go 3-0 down after just 11 minutes. — Reuters  

 

MANCHESTER, March 2 — Everton's Belgium international Marouane Fellaini is out for the season with an ankle injury while fellow midfielder Tim Cahill will be missing for up to three weeks with a foot problem, the club said.

Neither player featured in yesterday's surprise 1-0 defeat by Reading in the FA Cup fifth round at Goodison Park with the 23-year-old Fellaini needing surgery on the injury he picked up in the 2-0 home win over Sunderland in the league on Saturday.

"Marouane Fellaini is going to be out for the season now, he'll have an operation on Monday," Everton manager David Moyes was quoted as saying on the club's website (http://www.evertonfc.com).

"Most people will tell you he's been a key player for us this season," he added after Tuesday's loss to the Championship (second division) side.

"Tim Cahill will miss two or three weeks with a foot injury just now, but that isn't a reason for (Tuesday's) result."

Everton, who had knocked out FA Cup holders Chelsea on penalties in the previous round, visit Newcastle United in a mid-table Premier League clash on Saturday. — Reuters