Hulk shows his strength in SIPG triumph
Print Edition
ONE goal and one assist by top scorer Hulk helped Shanghai SIPG beat Jiangsu Suning 2-1 in the first leg of their AFC Champions League knockout stage (last 16) clash at Shanghai Stadium last night.
Despite Jiangsu’s early opener, the Brazilian equalized for the hosts from the penalty spot in the 30th minute before setting up Odil Akhmedov to secure victory.
“Our goal today was a victory,” said Hulk who was named man of the match. “The team was not in good form at the beginning, but the players gave their best after conceding the first goal.”
“We deserved to win,” said SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas. “We were the better team today, creating more chances, and we could have scored a third goal. The game is still open for the second leg and everything is possible.”
It was the first all-Chinese clash in the elite Asian tournament. SIPG put its Brazilian trio on from the start with Uzbekistan midfielder Akhmedov, while Jiangsu started with Brazilian duo Ramires and Alex Teixeira and Colombian Roger Martinez.
The SIPG manager said earlier that his team would not allow Jiangsu to score any away goal in their first leg tie. However, the visitors scored in the 9th minute when Martinez stole the ball from SIPG midfielder Cai Huikang and scored. Martinez had a one-on-one chance with SIPG goalie Yan Junling with just a minute to go but missed the opportunity.
Hulk, who had been heavily marked on the right wing in the first 30 minutes of the tense duel, won SIPG a penalty when he was brought down by Li Ang in the box. The Brazilian took the kick himself and equalized for the hosts with his fifth goal in the Asian tournament this year.
In injury time of first half, Hulk‚ picked out his teammate Akhmedov with a cross and his header put SIPG ahead before the break. Both teams created several chances in the second half but no more goals were scored.
“We played confidently after scoring the first goal,” said Jiangsu manager Choi Yong-soo. “Our opponents replied on one player’s personal ability to pull the match back. But with one away goal in hand, we have our chance in the second part of our 180-minute clash.”
Choi also gave credit to Hulk. “Hulk played a good game in a position he is familiar with today. After collecting experience from the first-leg match, our players will have more confidence facing him in the second leg.”
The two teams will meet again in Nanjing next Wednesday. Big-spending Jiangsu has won only one match in the Chinese Super League to sit last in the 16-team standing. SIPG is second in the table, behind Guangzhou Evergrande, after 10 rounds.
Earlier, in South Korea, substitute Jin Seong-uk struck in injury time as Jeju United beat Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds 2-0 to seize control of their last-16 tie.
Marcelo Toscano opened the scoring for Jeju after seven minutes.
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