Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Shanghai: Yu Hai scored the only goal of the game as Shanghai SIPG secured their third successive appearance in the AFC Champions League following a 1-0 victory over Thailand’s Chiangrai United in Tuesday’s play-off round.
The visitors could have gone ahead as early as the 11th minute at Shanghai Stadium when Piyaphon Phanichakul cut the ball back for captain Gilberto Macena, but the Brazilian skewed wide from 12 yards when he should have done better.
Shanghai were dominating possession and started to ask questions as half-time neared, with Oscar’s dinked cross headed wide by Lu Wenjun and Odil Ahmedov’s volley from distance gathered by goalkeeper Chatchai Budprom as the sides went in goalless.
But the hosts then went in front three minutes after the restart, despite the best efforts of Chatchai, who saved Yu’s initial attempt from Hulk’s corner and Shi Ke’s follow-up effort, only for defender Yu to be on hand to head home from close range.