Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Rafael Silva’s first-half strike helped Urawa Red Diamonds leapfrog Shanghai SIPG into pole position in Group F of the AFC Champions League following a 1-0 victory in a game that saw the visitors' Oscar miss a pair of penalties.
Silva (pictured) established himself as Urawa's key threat inside the first 60 seconds at Saitama Stadium as he struck the post, and the Brazilian managed to settle his sights a minute before half-time with a pinpoint effort stabbed into the bottom corner of the net.
Shanghai, minus their injured talisman Hulk, came out all guns blazing in the second-half and kept Urawa penned back for long periods, but Oscar missed the chance to pull them level in the 65th minute as his penalty was saved by Shusaku Nishikawa.
The Brazil international was given a chance to redeem himself from 12 yards 11 minutes later after a Tomoaki Makino handball but was again unable to find the target, this time firing his effort over the bar as the hosts held out.
The victory allowed Urawa to move level with Shanghai on nine points, with the J.League side just ahead on goal difference with two games to play. Both teams need just a point to advance to the knockout round after FC Seoul defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 3-2 in Tuesday's other Group F encounter to leave the sides six points adrift of the top two.