Dogged Teda holds Grampus to goalless draw
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 19, 2012
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Tamada dejected after missing the penalty. |
Determined Tianjin Teda ground out a gutsy goalless draw to cost Nagaoya Grampus top spot in Group G of the 2012 AFC Champions League at Mizuho Stadium on Wednesday night.
With two matches to play, Teda, last season's Chinese FA Cup winner, is thrid on three points in Group G behind Seongnam Ilhwa and Nagaoya Grampus.
Tianjin coach Josip Kuze praised his team's performance just two weeks after they suffered a comprehensive defeat to the same opponents on home soil.
"Of course, after losing 3-0 at home, we wanted to get a better result and give a better impression with a better performance today," said the former JEF United and Gamba Osaka coach.
"In my opinion, we played with a well-organised defense. We tried to defend first to bring a little bit of confidence, and after that we wanted to attack a little bit."
Tamada, a member of Japan's AFC Asian Cup winning squad back in 2004, slid the ball wide of goal in the 59th minute after his side had been awarded a penalty after Yuki Maki had been hauled down inside the area.
"It was a very hard game, the Chinese team was very motivated and my players looked very tired because of our very hard schedule," said Dragan Stojkovic, head coach of Nagaoya Grampus.
