Football: Magnificent seven for Adriano

Mizumoto Hiroki (right) vies for the ball with Carlos Adriano during their AFC Champions League match on March 1, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

(AFP) - Brazilian goal-machine Adriano made it seven goals in just two AFC Champions League games on Tuesday as FC Seoul destroyed Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4-1 to take a firm grip on Group F.

Adriano, who smashed four in last week's 6-0 demolition of Buriram United, plundered another hat-trick as the Korean FA Cup-holders roared back from a goal down.

After Kazuhiko Chiba's opener for Hiroshima, Kim Won Sik equalised for the hosts just after the half-hour, before Adriano grabbed his treble in 20 second-half minutes.

The Brazilian put Seoul ahead in the 49th minute when he let a free kick drop over his shoulder and delicately steered a sumptuous volley into the Hiroshima goal.

He showed his predatory instincts with a determined run and near-post finish on 55 minutes, and completed his hat-trick after another flowing team move in the 69th.

After a ball across the box from Spanish defender Osmar Barba, Sin Jin Ho's backheel found the on-rushing Adriano and the free-scoring forward swept home Seoul's fourth.

Adriano remained a danger in the final minutes and ex-Arsenal forward Park Chu Young also came close with a free kick which curled just wide.

After two games, FC Seoul top the nascent Group F on maximum points and three ahead of China's Shandong Luneng, who have a later kick-off against Thai outfit Buriram.

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