Zhang Lie (top), keeper of Guizhou Renhe, competes for the ball with Gao Lin, forward of Guangzhou Evergrande, on Sunday. Photo: IC

Chinese FA Cup final

Although they have already clinched the Chinese Super League (CSL) and Asian Champions League titles this year, Guangzhou Evergrande's hopes of ­becoming Asia's first treble winners received a severe blow on Sunday.

Two goals from Yu Hai delivered a 2-0 away defeat to Evergrande by Guizhou ­Renhe during the first leg of the Chinese FA Cup finals at the Guiyang Olympic ­Center.

What's worse for Evergrade is that both Elkeson and Muriqui, two of their critical South American trio, will have to stay on the sidelines in the next leg at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium on Saturday. Muriqui was shown a yellow card in the 20th minute, his second in the FA Cup, ruling him out for the next match. Elkeson received a red card 10 minutes later, and has to join Muriqui on the sidelines in Guangzhou.

This is the second consecutive time the two sides have met in the FA Cup finals, with Evergrande won with an ­aggregated score of 5-3 last year.

Although Evergrande have claimed the last three CSL titles since being promoted to the Chinese top soccer league, Renhe's Guiyang Olympic ­Center ­remains the only stadium where they have not claimed a victory.

Before Sunday's match, Renhe publicized a poster with the images of Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, and a tiger. The Chinese words on the poster read, "Pull the teeth out of the tiger's mouth." The Monkey King is Renhe's insignia while the South China tiger is Evergrande's.

It turned out that the monkey really can pull teeth from the tiger's mouth.

Evergrande were the better side in the early phase of the first half, and created several chances. Zheng Zhi scored a goal in the eighth minute, but was ruled out for offside. In the 29th minute, Renhe's Yang Hao kicked Elkeson's leg when ­trying to steal the ball from him. The kick should have earned Yang a yellow card, but Elkeson immediately struck Yang's head in revenge. After consulting with the assistant referee, the referee showed him the red card.

Playing one man down, Evergrande did not create any clear-cut chances. Six minute after halftime, Renhe were leading thanks to a goal from Yu. And 16 minutes later, Yu's second helped the home side double their lead.

"Evergrande have their weaknesses," Gong Lei, Renhe's head coach, told a news conference after the game. "They were not fully prepared for this game."

He is confident that his side can still play well in the second leg. "We've already had a plan for the game at ­Tianhe."

"Renhe won the game today; I have nothing to say," said Lippi when asked whether Guiyang is the most difficult stadium he has ever played away in.

Although facing a very steep task ahead, Lippi is still confident that they can still make it in the next leg. "It is not over yet," he said.