SIPG held to 0-0 draw at home by Jeonbuk in ACL
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SHANGHAI SIPG was held to a goalless draw by K League champion Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors yesterday during their AFC Champions League quarterfinals first leg match at Shanghai Stadium.
“It’s a fair result,” said SIPG manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was happy with his players’ performance. “Both teams had few chances. It would have been better if we had won, but first leg games are never easy.
“We met a very good team that was physically strong. The game is still wide open, and there is still a possibility for us to advance to the semifinals.”
SIPG was missing its summer purchase, Brazilian striker Hulk, and Argentine playmaker Dario Conca due to injuries.
“If everything goes as planned, the doctor said Hulk should be ready for the league match against Beijing (September 9),” said the Swede. “So he shall be ready for the second leg of the AFC match (September 13). Fingers crossed.”
The hosts did not create any chances of note until the 20th minute when Yu Hai’s header was collected easily by Jeonbuk goalie Kwoun Suntae.
SIPG’s Brazilian striker Elkeson was tripped inside the Jeonbuk’s box seven minutes later, but the referee called for a free-kick from the top of the box. Jeonbuk’s best chance in the first half came in the 37th minute when Leonardo Rodrigues’ shot struck SIPG’s bar.
Both the goalies impressed in the second half. Kwoun blocked a direct free-kick from SIPG’s Lu Wenjun, while SIPG keeper Yan Junling made a full-stretch save to deny Choi Chul-soon.
“A draw is not a bad result though we came with expectations of a victory,” said Jeonbuk manager Choi Kang-hee. “Lee Ho’s unexpected injury forced us to make some changes… We will get the victory in the second leg.”
Choi said SIPG’s Elkeson and Wu Lei were the players they had studied before coming here. They will also be marked for the return leg in Jeonju on September 13.
Wu also said they had seen the Korean team’s videos. “We studied Jeonbuk’s videos of their game against Jiangsu Suning,” said Wu. “Now we know more about their style. A clean sheet at home is good for us.”
SIPG, playing for the first time in a continental campaign, topped Group G after eliminating Japan’s Tokyo FC in the Round of 16. The club spent 55 million euros (US$61 million) on Hulk’s transfer from Zenit St Petersburg last month, but the Brazilian could only manage 20 minutes of playing time in his debut match before leaving the field with an injury.
It is currently fourth in the Chinese Super League with 38 points — two points less than third ranked city rival Greenland Shenhua. To ensure its run in the AFC, it must either win the AFC Champions League or at least finish third in the domestic league standings.
CSL has seven rounds left but SIPG faces tough opponents in league leader Guangzhou Evergrande, second ranked Jiangsu and fifth ranked Hebei China Fortune.
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