Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: A brace from Brazilian international Oscar helped Shanghai SIPG to a convincing 4-1 win over Melbourne Victory in their Group F encounter on Matchday Two of the 2018 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
Played in wet conditions at Shanghai Stadium, it was the home side who struck first when Melbourne Victory defender Jason Geria handled the ball in the box, with Brazilian superstar Hulk sending Lawrence Thomas the wrong way from the spot, before a Wu Lei header five minutes before half time doubled their lead.
Record-signing Oscar made it 3-0 just two minutes into the second half after Geria’s scuffed clearance fell straight to the former Chelsea star on the edge of the box.
The 26-year-old should have scored his second of the night when he was sensationally played through by Hulk, but his chipped effort inexplicably went wide of the target.
Melbourne Victory were thrown a lifeline when Yu Hai was adjudged to have handled the ball from a corner, and after a frustrating evening up until that point, Besart Berisha made no mistake from the spot with 25 minutes still to play.
But any hope the visitors had was extinguished just over five minutes later when Oscar and Wu Lei combined for the Brazilian’s second of the night, a sensational curling effort past the outstretched hands of Thomas to seal the win and all three points for the home side.