Summary China's record signing kept up his phenomenal strike rate with his 5th and 6th goals in just 3 games
BEIJING (AFP) - Tournament top-scorer Ricardo Goulart blasted a brace as 2013 winners Guangzhou Evergrande beat Kashima Antlers 4-3 to near a spot in the AFC Champions League knock-out rounds on Wednesday.
China s record signing kept up his phenomenal strike rate with his fifth and sixth goals in just three games as Fabio Cannavaro s side went five points clear in Group H.
But Guangzhou needed the Brazilian s goals in a pulsating match, which Kashima briefly led before succumbing to the Chinese champions superior firepower.
Goulart opened the scoring with a looping header on nine minutes, after losing his marker in a free-kick routine straight off the training field.
Kashima hit back through Hiroyuki Takasaki s close finish on the rebound on 36 minutes, before Shoma Doi gave the visitors a shock lead after half-time.
But Guangzhou quickly equalised when Elkeson nodded in a carbon-copy of Goulart s goal from another free-kick, before setting up his fellow Brazilian for the third.
Goulart picked up the loose ball after Elkeson s strong challenge, and he surged into a gap between two defenders before firing in off the upright with his lethal left foot.
Substitute Zhao Xuri scrambled Guangzhou s fourth in injury time before Gaku Shibasaki s bullet header seconds later -- but with no time for Kashima to grab an equaliser.
Holders and group rivals Western Sydney Wanderers drew 0-0 with FC Seoul to leave Guangzhou already eyeing the last 16 with three pool games to go.
Elsewhere, Australian champions Brisbane Roar had to scramble to rescue a point against Suwon Bluewings in Group G despite being two-up in the first 22 minutes.
In another thrilling match, Brandon Borrello and Devante Clut gave the hosts the two-goal cushion before the South Korean side fought back with a brace from Seo Jung-Jin.
North Korean striker Jong Tae-Se appeared to have secured a famous win on 71 minutes, before Clut spared Brisbane s blushes with his equaliser with 10 minutes to go.
In Group F, Theerathon Bunmathan levelled on 62 minutes as Thailand s Buriram United held Japanese treble-winners Gamba Osaka 1-1 away.
