Injury-time double as Kashima seal thrilling comeback

SEOUL: Title-holders Kashima Antlers pulled off one of the AFC Champions League’s great comebacks as they scored twice in injury time to beat Gyeongnam FC 3-2 on Tuesday.Takeshi Kanamori scored in the 91st minute and Serginho struck superbly in the 93rd to snatch a stunning win after Kashima were 2-0 down with 15 minutes left and then had a man sent off.Gyeongnam’s Woo Ju-sung headed the game’s second own goal to give the Japanese visitors hope at 2-1, but it looked like mission impossible when Tomoya Inukai saw red with six minutes left. However, Kanamori’s close-range volley and Serginho’s sizzling shot on the turn stole victory.A niggly first half in rain-soaked Changwon ended with Kashima goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae being stretchered off after an inadvertent stamp by Gyeongnam’s Lee Kwang-jin. Kashima’s Inukai was yellow-carded for elbowing Lee but there was worse to come for the defender on 56 minutes when he dived to direct a header low and into his own goal.Ko Kyung-min hit the post for the hosts before English midfielder Jordon Mutch’s volley from a corner put them 2-0 up and on course for an upset with 19 minutes to play. Gyeongnam defender Woo Ju-sung scored the game’s second own goal, again from a header, to make it 2-1 but Kashima’s hopes of a comeback were rocked when Inukai received a second yellow card. However, Kanamori poached the equaliser on 91 minutes, and two minutes later Serginho’s turn-and-shot fizzed into the top corner to seal a thrilling comeback.

from The News International - Sports http://bit.ly/2VHgtus