体坛英语新闻：China's Shandong out of AFC Champions League with four consecutive losses

JINAN, East China, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Shandong Luneng, one of the leaders of the Chinese Super League, failed to survive the group stage of the ongoing AFC Champions League, losing 3-2 to visiting Japanese J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima here on Tuesday.

After stunning Hiroshima 1-0 in Japan in the opener of Group H, Shandong suffered four losses in a row and had to accept the fate of elimination with still one match to go.

The group leaders, Australian A-League side Adelaide United and South Korean K-League side Pohang Steelers, made a goalless tie earlier to guarantee their survival with 10 points each. Hiroshima were also out with six points and only one match to go.

"We lost the game because our players did not focus enough," said Shandong coach Branko Ivankovic at the after-match press conference. "We need more training."

Hiroshima coach Mihailo Petrovic attributed the victory to his team's ability to grab the scoring chance and good control of the pace.

"We were passive at the first half but sharpened our attacking edge at the second half. We also took advantage of Shandong players' misplay to turn the defeat into a victory," he said.

Both Shandong and Hiroshima wanted to defend their dignity at today's match and both of them concentrated more on attacking than defending.

The home side broke the deadlock just before the interval. Striker Han Peng, who scored the only goal in the two sides' first encounter, picked up a rebound in the box and sent the ball into the open net.

Morisaki Koji tied the score in the 73rd minute by propelling the ball with his left foot on the pass from forward Sato Hisato in the box. Only after six minutes, Forward Lee Tadanari gifted the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Daniel Buadee Benson Erchiah from Shandong produced the equalizer on 85 minutes. But Lee Tadanari scored again in the injury time to notch the victory for Hiroshima.

In the new season of the Chinese Super League, Shandong is topping the standings with seven points after three matches.