Brazilians shine as SIPG reaches ACL group stage
Print Edition
A GOAL from Oscar and a brace from Brazilian compatriot Elkeson gave Shanghai SIPG a 3-0 victory over Thailand’s Sukhothai FC last night as the Chinese Super League club qualified for the group stage of 2017 AFC Champions League.
“It was a better second half than first half for us,” said SIPG head coach Andre Villas-Boas. “In the first half we made too many mistakes, which we have to improve. Generally it’s very important to get a first victory. We are now in the group stage, in a strong group.”
Starting with the Brazilian trio of Oscar, Hulk and Elkeson, SIPG did not put the visitors under much pressure at Shanghai Stadium initially, with Hulk’s close-range shot in the 6th minute the only attempt on goal.
With home fans getting restive as the team allowed easy access to the opponents into its box, Oscar calmed their nerves with the opener in the 33rd.
The former Chelsea star was at the end of Odil Akhmedov’s pass and he broke the through Sukhothai defense to score his debut goal for his new club.
SIPG did not have to wait too long for the second goal when Hulk’s pass from the corner area found Wu Lei in the box. Wu passed the ball to a better-positioned Elkeson who scored with a back heel.
With a two-goal advantage, the hosts played with more confidence after the break. In the 58th, Elkeson’s shot in the box hit Sukhothai defender Kiattisak Toopkhuntod and deflected into the net. The Brazilian almost got a hat-trick three minutes later but for an impressive performance by Sukhothai goalie Anirut Naiyana, who was kept busy in the second half.
Oscar was substituted by Yu Hai in the 78th.
The match was attended by Chinese national team head coach Marcello Lippi, as well as 25,860 spectators.
SIPG is in a strong Group F along with South Korean side FC Seoul, Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Western Sydney Wanderers of Australia.
Villas-Boas praised the performances of his two new players Oscar and Akhmedov.
“Both joined us late in our preparation. Oscar scored the first goal, building a solid foundation for the final result,” said the Portuguese. “We will have to improve our passing and positioning. In the second half it was not efficient, but generally it was good.”
Sukhothai manager Jason Withe said he was disappointed, but admitted the result was acceptable given SIPG’s squad strength.
He was, however, not happy with the match referees.
“They (the first two goals) were easy goals. You see the first goal, nobody kicked the ball out when there were people down, when we usually kick it out. The second goal, we were with 10 men, and I think there was a handball there. I think the match officials seemed intimidated here,” Withe claimed.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
