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Gwangju down Kawasaki to preserve ideal start in Asian Champions League

South Korea's Gwangju FC held on to hand JLeague side Kawasaki Frontale a 10 defeat on Tuesday to protect backtoback Asian Champions League Elite wins as Chinese Super League sides Shanghai Port and Shanghai Shenhua had a hard time.

Kevin Muscat's CSL leaders Shanghai Port plunged to a 3-0 loss versus Pohang Steelers while Johor Darul Ta'zim beat visitors Shenhua 3-0 in Malaysia.

Thailand's Buriram United, meanwhile, beat Australian champs Central Coast Mariners 2-1 in Gosford to get their very first win of the campaign.

Gwangju followed up their 7-3 thrashing of Yokohama F Marinos on the opening day with a gritty success over Kawasaki, with Jasir Asani's 21st minute charge making Lee Jung-hyo's side another three points in the league phase.

Goalkeeper Kim Kyeong-min ensured Gwangju held onto the points as Frontale pushed for an equaliser, with alternative Erison also striking the post late in the game for Kawasaki.

Malaysian champions JDT dismissed Shanghai Shenhua, with Arif Aiman and Jorge Obregon scoring inside the opening 26 minutes to provide the home side a comfy lead.

Juan Muniz struck the 3rd 10 minutes from time with a completely performed complimentary kick to move his side onto 4 points after an opening 2-2 draw with Shanghai Port last month.

These three points are extremely important due to the fact that we capitalised on the one point we escaped in the first game, said JDT head coach Hector Bidoglio.

Today JDT revealed in the house we're a hard group to beat.

Buriram United joined JDT on 4 points with their 2-1 win over Central Coast having drawn 0-0 with Vissel Kobe in the first round.

Guilherme Bissoli put the Thai League 1 champs in front when he directed Dion Cools' cross past Adam Pavlesic and Curtis Good doubled the benefit five minutes into the second half with a header.

Pavlesic was dispatched for transporting down Bissoli in the 57th minute while Lucas Mauragis' strike into the top corner in the fifth minute of interruption time was little bit more than an alleviation for the hosts.

Pohang bounced back from their opening day loss to Shanghai Shenhua with a strong second half revealing in the house to beat Shanghai Port, with goals from Wanderson, Hong Yun-sang and Han Chan-hee delivering a 3-0 success.

The 2nd round of matches in the league stage will be finished on Wednesday, when Japanese champs Vissel Kobe host China's Shandong Taishan and last season's runners-up Yokohama F Marinos amuse Ulsan HD.

(source: Reuters)