Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players celebrate their goal during a 2-0 victory over Becamex Bình Dương of Việt Nam in the AFC Champions League match. -- Photo the-afc.com

HÀ NỘI – Becamex Bình Dương stayed at the bottom of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League’s Group E after their second loss yesterday.

The Việt Nam champions were defeated 0-2 by hosts Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium, in Jeonju City.

After three matches, Becamex Bình Dương have one point and two goals.

Their rivals jumped to the top with six points, followed by Jiangsu FC of China and FC Tokyo of Japan.

Becamex Bình Dương started brightly but were slowly pushed back by the South Korean champions as Lee Dong-gook was robbed of possession at point blank range as the striker was about to pull the trigger 15 minutes into the game.

Minutes later, Christian Amougou Nsi’s smart back-heel fell into the path of Henry Kisekka but the Ugandan striker shot straight at Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae from the edge of the penalty area for the visitors.

Becamex Bình Dương had their best spell of the game with Nsi’s shot from inside the area looking goal-bound before it was blocked.

Despite a great effort the visiting side could not save their net for the first half.

Ricardo Lopes opened the scoring five minutes before half-time for Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk. The Brazilian striker drilled a perfect shot into the far corner to claim his first goal for his new club.

Considered the weakest team of the group, Becamex Bình Dương were still very much in the game, and 10 minutes into the second half defender Đặng Văn Robert fired a fierce shot that was well saved by Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun.

But the home side finally sealed the win as Luiz Henrique crossed for Lee Dong-gook, who found the net via a deflection. His 30th goal of the tournament was made at the last official minute of the game.

“We have played well almost all the time but it was a tough match for us. We made one mistake at the end of each half and lost the game,” Becamex Bình Dương coach Nguyễn Thanh Sơn said.

“We are looking forward to the return match, and we are confident that we can keep improving and hope to overturn this result at home,” he said.

Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk will visit Việt Nam on April 6.

On the other side, Coach Choi Kang-hee said the win at home was important for his team. Although things did not go as they planned and there were mistakes the result stood on his side.

He believed that Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk would get better.

In the other match of the group, Tokyo were tied in a goalless draw by Jiangsu at Tokyo Stadium.

Their rematch will be at the start of April at the Olympic Sports Centre in Nanjing City. – VNS