SEOUL: Dejan Damjanovic’s late equalizer earned FC Seoul a 2-2 home draw against big-spending Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the first leg of the AFC Champions League final on Saturday.

Guangzhou, coached by World Cup-winning Italian Marcello Lippi, appeared to be heading for victory until Montenegro striker Damjanovic slotted in a cross from Sergio Escudero with seven minutes remaining.

The same pair also combined in the Korean champions’ opening goal in the 11th minute when Escudero calmly placed the ball past Guangzhou goalkeeper Zeng Cheng after being set up by Damjanovic.

The Chinese side equalized in the 29th minute, much to the disappointment of the packed house at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, when Brazilian Elkeson headed in a corner for his fifth goal of the tournament.

China international Gao Lin made it 2-1 for Guangzhou, who are trying to become the country’s first winner of the region’s premier club tournament, by deftly diverting in a low cross just before the hour.

Brazilian striker Muriqui, the top scorer in the tournament with 13 goals, wasted two chances toward the end to grab the winner for Guangzhou while Damjanovic shot straight into the hands of Zeng from a one-on-one situation in injury time.

A win for Guangzhou, who will host the return leg on Nov. 9, will make Lippi the first coach to win both the UEFA and Asian Champions League titles.

“Two away goals are a very important factor for us, it’s an advantage, but there’s still another 90 minutes to play,” said the 65-year-old Lippi, who won the European Champions League with Juventus 17 years ago.

“I believe we caused a lot of problems for their defense, the kind of chances that usually we score.

“Some players showed they weren’t up to their usual capabilities, but I don’t like to call out names.”