Elkeson fires SIPG into ACL last 8
Print Edition
A BRACE from Elkeson and an injury-time goal from fellow Brazilian Hulk gave Shanghai SIPG a 3-2 victory over Jiangsu Suning in the second leg of their AFC Champions League last-16 match in Nanjing last night.
SIPG advanced to the quarterfinals of the elite Asian league for the second straight time, with an aggregate score of 5-3.
“I am very happy for the team and the victory that we deserved,” SIPG manager Andre Villas-Boas said. “The players showed high spirit despite the humid weather, and have been training very hard amid a tiring schedule.”
Villas-Boas reserved special praise for man of the match Elkeson, who won two ACL titles with his former club Guangzhou Evergrande in 2013 and 2015.
“Our team (SIPG) is on the right path and played well in both legs. It has also gained experience from playing in last year’s Asian league,” the Brazil striker said.
SIPG will meet one of the three teams — Guangzhou Evergrande, Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Red Diamonds — in the quarterfinals. The draw will take place on June 6.
“We have played Guangzhou and Urawa before. Whoever we play next, it will be great fun for fans,” said Villas-Boas, who had to make an early substitution when midfielder Cai Huikang got injured after clashing with Jiangsu’s former Chelsea hardman Ramires in the 10th minute. He was substituted by striker Lin Chuangyi.
Jiangsu’s best chance in the first half came in the 16th minute when South Korean defender Hong Jeong-ho headed towards goal on a corner assist, which was blocked by SIPG goalie Yan Junling. Hong’s follow-up shot hit the post.
The opener came in the 33rd when Hulk’s pass from midfield found Elkeson in front of the Jiangsu box. Hong tried to block Elkeson while waiting for teammate and goalkeeper Zhang Sipeng to collect the ball. But Elkeson got past Hong and shot towards goal.
In the 42nd, SIPG doubled its advantage in a counter-attack. Hulk led the ball through the midfield before passing it on to an unmarked Elkeson in front of the goal. The Brazilian’s shot went over the head of goalie Zhang but defender Yang Xiaotian failed to make a clearance, scoring an own goal instead.
With nothing to lose, Jiangsu went on the attack, putting the SIPG defense under heavy pressure as Ramires, striker Alex Teixeira and Ge Wei took turns to threaten the visitors’ goal.
The continuous attacks paid off in the 74th when Hong pulled one back for Jiangsu with a header. Wu Xi’s equalizer for Jiangsu in injury time created some uncertainty towards the end of the match. But SIPG top scorer Hulk reacted quickly to score another for Shanghai to fix the final scoreline at 3-2. It was his sixth goal in the Asian tournament this year.
Following his expensively-assembled team’s elimination from the ACL, manager Choi Yong-soo will come under immense pressure since Jiangsu lies fourth from bottom in this year’s Chinese Super League.
“We played with our own pace at the beginning, but lost concentration in the latter part and conceded goals,” the South Korean said. “It’s a pity the ACL is over for us, but we have a long way to go (in the league). To battle on two fronts at the same time was weary for the players, both mentally and physically.”
Earlier in Saitama, Ryota Moriwaki scored in extra time as Urawa pulled off a stunning comeback by beating 10-man Jeju United 3-0 to advance.
After goals from Shinzo Koroki and Tadanari Lee in normal time, Moriwaki crashed home Urawa’s third on 114 minutes to complete a 3-0 victory and reverse last week’s 0-2 defeat.
Meanwhile, Japanese champion Kashima fired coach Masatada Ishii yesterday after it was eliminated from the ACL.
The Antlers said Ishii will be replaced by Go Oiwa, who has been an assistant coach with Kashima since 2011.
Kashima beat Evergrande 2-1 at home on Tuesday for a 2-2 aggregate score, but was eliminated on away goals.
Ishii steered the team to the domestic title last year and the final of the 2016 Club World Cup, where Kashima lost in extra time to Real Madrid — the best result ever for an Asian team in the tournament.
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