Becamex Binh Duong’s trip to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League ended yesterday after their 0-3 loss to Jiangsu Suning in the fifth round match of Group E.

A superlative performance from Alex Teixeira helped Jiangsu Suning move into second place as they edged close to a place in the round of 16.

The Brazilian playmaker had a role in all three goals for the hosts, as Wu Xi opened the scoring after just six minutes and Jo added a second shortly after.

Jiangsu’s dominance lessened in the second period, but they still added a third with 10 minutes remaining through substitute Ji Xiang.

With Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors also defeating FC Tokyo by the same scoreline, though, the group is tightly poised ahead of the final round of group stage fixtures in a fortnight’s time with just two points separating leaders Jeonbuk and third-placed FC Tokyo.

Despite the rain pounding down in Nanjing at the saturated Olympic Sports Centre, Jiangsu were the aggressors from the start with pre-season marquee signing Teixeira dictating play for the hosts.

After just six minutes, Jo, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man, danced in from the left, drew the attention of three Becamex Binh Duong defenders, and found countryman Ramires, who clipped a pass into the path of Wu, who dinked the ball over the onrushing Becamex Binh Duong goalkeeper Bùi Tấn Trường.

And just a minute later, Jiangsu were two goals up as Teixeira found overlapping right-back Zhou Yun with a glorious long ball from the halfway line, and the defender’s cross in from the right was poked in at the back-post by a sliding Jo.

Although the visitors looked overwhelmed by Jiangu’s early onslaught, they were able to steady themselves and had their first effort on goal at 20 minutes when Le Tan Tai flashed a volley narrowly wide.

Teixeira continued to be the first half’s most dangerous player, however. On the stroke half-time he almost made it 3-0 by beating two defenders on the left wing before surging into the penalty area and drilling a shot into the side-netting.

In the second half, Jiangsu continued in the same vein with Teixeira teeing up Yang Jiawei, but the midfielder could only fire his shot straight at Tấn Trường, who tipped over.

At 55 minutes, Becamex Binh Duong forward Christian Amougou came close to a spectacular riposte as his attempted chip from 40m away needed a back-peddling Gu Chao to palm over from under his crossbar.

Teixeira and Han Seung-yeop then exchanged chances at either end following the hour, before second half replacement Ji made certain of the three points and Becamex Binh Duong’s elimination as he drilled home an angled shot at 80 minutes after a lay-off from Jo with Teixeira again at the heart of the move.

The last round match will be on May 4. Becamex Binh Duong will host FC Tokyo while Jiangsu will visit Jeonbuk.

VNS