KASHIWA, Japan -- Former Tottenham midfielder Paulinho gave his new-look career a strong boost on Tuesday by scoring a stunning long-range goal as Guangzhou Evergrande reasserted their status as the team to beat in the Asian Champions League.
Paulinho, who joined the Chinese Super League side in June after a disappointing spell in the Premier League, scored the visitors' second goal in the 40th minute of the quarterfinal first leg as Guangzhou beat Japan's Kashiwa Reysol 3-1.
He slammed home an unstoppable free kick from 35 yards.
"I was surprised because it was the first free kick in my life," the 27-year-old Paulinho said of his wonder strike. "I never take free kicks because it's not my job. But I just thought I will try and see what happens, and then scored for sure the best goal of my life."
Kashiwa, hoping to avenge an 8-1 aggregate thumping by Guangzhou at the semifinal stage in 2013, got off to a disastrous start -- going a goal behind in just the fifth when centre-back Daisuke Suzuki headed Huang Bowen's free kick into his own net.
Paulinho doubled the lead before Gao Lin made it 3-0 in the 58th, heading another Huang delivery beyond Reysol goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno.
Masato Kudo claimed Reysol's consolation goal from close range in the 89th minute.