Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: A 1-1 draw against Kawasaki Frontale secured Shanghai SIPG top spot in Group F on Matchday Five of the 2018 AFC Champions League on Wednesday.
After a tepid opening quarter of an hour, the game sprung into life on 21 minutes as Shanghai were handed a penalty when Odil Ahmedov was brought down inside the area.
But the Shanghai Stadium crowd were left shocked as the usually prolific Hulk put his spot kick well over the bar, spurning a golden opportunity to fire the home side into an early lead.
Just two minutes into the second half, Wu Lei missed a glorious chance to open the scoring for the hosts. After Oscar threaded through an inch-perfect ball, the Chinese international sliced his shot agonisingly wide of Jung Sung-ryong in the Kawasaki goal.
After a sustained period of pressure, the breakthrough eventually came for Shanghai in the 68th minute as Elkeson finished off the good work of Oscar and then Hulk in the build up to give goalkeeper Jung no chance.