Joel Griffiths missed a crucial penalty but Beijing Guoan held onto top spot in the Chinese Super League despite losing 3-2 to bottom club Chongqing Lifan.The Australian striker, who is on loan at Beijing from A-League club Newcastle Jets, missed a penalty won by his brother Ryan late in the contest with the score at 3-1.
But with their nearest rivals, Shandong Luneng and Henan Construction, both failing to win today, Guoan live to fight another day at the top of the table.
Early in the contest at Chongqing, it looked like the league leaders would continue on their merry way when Tao Wei fired in a stunning long-range free-kick on 7 minutes.
But the hosts, buoyed by the presence of new signing Ailton, an ex-German Bundesliga superstar, equalised through Costa Rican Johnny Lambert on 33 minutes with a cool finish before Huang Xiyang gave them lead just before the break.
The Chinese midfielder produced a stunning volley which left the Guoan stopper with no chance, putting Chongqing ahead on 45 minutes.
Huang Xiyang was at it again on 72 minutes when he stretched Chongqing's lead with a nice goal from the edge of the box, before Joel Griffiths drove forward and passed for his brother, Ryan, who was tripped in the box and won a penalty for the visitors.
But after Joel stepped up to take the kick he could only to fire his shot high, wide and handsome.
Guoan did grab a late lifeline through Zhou Ting on 86 minutes, but it was too little, too late, leaving them to rue their missed penalty.
Elsewhere in the CSL, Mark Milligan played a full game as ten-man Shanghai Shenhua drew 2-2 at Jiangsu Sainty. Meanwhile, Brendon Santalab made his full debut for Chengdu Blades as they beat Shaanxi 2-0.
In Korea's K-League, ex-Adelaide United defender Sasa Ognenovski had to be subbed at half-time as Seongnam Ilhwa stunned impressive Jeonbuk Motors 3-1, while Jade North wasn't in the Incheon United squad which lost 3-2 at Gangwon FC.
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