KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 -- Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng won 1-0 against Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in Group E of the 2019 AFC Champions League (ACL) in Johor, Malaysia on Wednesday.

Italian striker Graziano Pelle handed Shandong the win after a close range shot in the 22nd minute, taking their second win in the group at the Larkin Stadium in Malaysia's Southern state of Johor.

Despite a strong start with Johor's Azrif Nasrulhaq making the first attempt, his shot went wildly off the mark, and with Pelle's success in the first half, the home team found itself unable to catch up.

Luneng's other players were unable to follow up on their first goal with Jin Jingdao having missed his chance to make it a 2-0 just minutes after the first goal, with his free shot flying straight at Johor's keeper, Izham Tarmizi Roslan.

Song Wenjie fared somewhat worse, failing to make an easy shot just 10 minutes before the first round ended.

Song made another attempt early in the second half but Izham was able to hold back the attempt before making another exceptional save against another attempt by Pelle just after an hour into the match.

Pelle did not let up and made another nearly successful attempt during the final minutes of the match, but his aim was slightly off.

Although topping the group after the victory, Shandong Luneng's head coach Li Xiaopeng remained cautious on the prospect of qualifying for the next round.

【体坛英语资讯：Shandong Luneng beat Johor DT to top Group E in AFC Champions League】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Bayi loses do-or-die Game 4 to exit CBA play-offs

★ 体坛英语资讯：Did Yi get an All-Star snub?

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer, Davydenko make Estoril tennis semifinals

★ 体坛英语资讯：Switzerland beat Hungary 3-2 in World Cup qualifier

★ 体坛英语资讯：Wariner beaten by Australian Batman

★ 体坛英语资讯：Draft law seeks to find life after sport

★ 体坛英语资讯：Netherlands lands Prix title, China takes silver

★ 体坛英语资讯：Chinas EAFC title hopes dashed after losing to Japan 1-0

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer, Djokovic roll into semifinals

★ 体坛资讯：Iran tops group of death, beating China 77-68