Brazilian striker Cesinha inspired South Korea’s Daegu FC to come from behind on their AFC Champions League debut Tuesday and record a stunning 3-1 win at Melbourne Victory.
After a cagey start at Aami Park, the opening Group F encounter burst into life just before the half-hour mark when the home side took the lead.
Victory’s Japanese talisman Keisuke Honda drove forward and slid a delightfully weighted pass through to Kosta Barbarouses lurking on the right.
The New Zealand international’s low cross was sweetly swept in by the right foot of big Swede Ola Toivonen.
Daegu had barely threatened till that point, but they struck back in spectacular fashion just two minutes later when the classy Cesinha volleyed home from outside the box after being set up by fellow Brazilian Edgar’s cushioned header.
The A-League side should have led at half-time but Honda shot straight at South Korea’s World Cup goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo with the goal gaping.
Man of the match Cesinha was at the heart of all Daegu’s best moves and it was his mazy run from the half-way line in the 51st minute that set up the visitors’ second.
Cesinha found Hwang Soon-min on the left whose deflected shot looped over the stranded Lawrence Thomas in the Melbourne goal.
Cesinha turned provider again 10 minutes later when his cross from the right was initially blocked before the tall Edgar snaked out a long right leg to poke home the clincher from close range.
