JINAN, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Graziano Pelle scored twice as Shandong Luneng came back from two goals down to hold Japanese side Kashima Antlers to a 2-2 draw in Group E's second round of 2019 AFC Champions League matches at the Jinan Olympic Center on Tuesday.
This was the first meeting between Luneng and Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League, and though Shandong started brightly, defending champions Kashima silenced the hosts as Sho Ito scored twice in quick succession to give the Japanese side a 2-0 lead after just 14 minutes of play.
Luneng fought back and reduced the arrears in the 20th minute, when Pelle converted a penalty awarded after Kento Misao was adjudged to have handballed in the area.
The Italian international leveled the scores four minutes into the second half with his fourth goal of this season's Asian campaign.
"It was a tough game, and very important for us. Though we started poorly, we managed to equalize. We will concentrate on the next game to go forward," Pelle said after the match.
Though both sides came close to a winning goal in the second half, the game ultimately ended honors even.
"The pace of Asian rivals are faster than that of Chinese Super League rivals, and that cost us two goals," Luneng's head coach Li Xiaopeng said, lamenting his side's slow start.
"We played great football. One point is not ideal, but is good for us," said Kashima's head coach Go Oiwa.
Former Brazil international Zico, who both played for and managed Kashima and now serves as the club's technical director, came to Jinan with the team. As manager of Japan in 2004, Zico's team qualified for that year's Asian Cup final after defeating Bahrain 4-3 in Jinan.
Kashima currently tops Group E with 4 points. Luneng sit joint second, having now played out two 2-2 draws, and will next host Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim on April 9, while Kashima will travel to South Korea to face Gyeongnam FC.
