Beijing Football: Guo'an Draws, China Remembers Sir Alex Ferguson

Beijing's CSL side, Beijing Guo'an, played their AFC rivals, the FC Seoul Pohang Steelers, to a 0-0 draw Tuesday night at the Workers' Stadium in the first leg of the Champions' League second round. Guoan will likely rue this result after having a one-man advantage for the last 30 minutes of the match, after Steelers' Choi Hyo-jin was sent off for his second yellow card. That means they'll have to win or draw (to go through on the away goals rule) in Seoul on May 21 to make the last eight of the competition. Guoan is currently going through a goal drought, having qualified for the round of 16 with a goalless draw versus Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan on April 30.

Speaking of the Workers' Stadium, some Beijing residents will remember visits to that venue by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who announced his retirement earlier this month. Goal.com did a nice piece on Sir Alex, Man Utd and China here. Sir Alex ends his reign away at West Brom this Sunday at 11pm local time, having managed the team as it generated a significant following in China the team has over 300,000 Weibo followers). Man Utd. currently counts China Construction Bank and Wahaha among its . Watch the match at the bar that Beijinger readers voted the Best Sports Bar for 2013. We're told that they'll be throwing a Farewell to Sir Alex party on Sunday. Free drinks if you wear a United shirt.

And finally, those aforementioned Red Devils fans may get a glimpse of this season's hero, Robin Van Persie, if he travels for the international friendly between China and the Netherlands on June 11 at the Workers Stadium. Ticket details are still forthcoming.

Photo: FCGuoan.com.cn