Debutants Shanghai SIPG secured their progression to the last 16 of the AFC Champions League as Group G table-toppers with a game to spare following their 3-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Tuesday.
The hosts took the lead eight minutes before the interval at Shanghai Stadium through midfielder Yu Hai before Brazilian striker Elkeson doubled their tally soon after.
Argentine Dario Conca made it three from the spot midway through the second half only for substitute Jesse Makarounas to give the visitors hope 10 minutes from time, but Shanghai held on to take all three points and seal the group.
Shanghai almost opened the scoring on five minutes after Wang Shenchao’s long throw-in from the right bounced up to Wu Lei, who was unlucky to see his sweetly-struck volley from just inside the area fly inches over.
Melbourne had their first chance of note on 31 minutes when New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses saw his effort from 15 yards rebound back off the woodwork after excellent work from the tenacious Besart Berisha down the right.
The hosts then went in front on 37 minutes when Elkeson’s deep free-kick to the back post was headed goalwards by Wu Lei allowing Yu Hai to bundle the ball over the line from close in.
And Shanghai then doubled their advantage two minutes later through Elkeson’s fourth of the tournament when he got on the end of Wu Lei’s low cross from the right to find the back of the net from seven yards.
Goalkeeper Yan Junling then pulled off a fine double save to prevent the visitors pulling one back four minutes before the interval, first denying Barbarouses from 20 yards and then blocking Archie Thompson’s effort from close in with his right foot when the frontman looked certain to score.
The visitors pushed to open their account after the restart but Yan Junling was again on hand shortly before the hour to push out Daniel Georgievski’s strike from a tight angle.
Shanghai all but secured the win on 65 minutes when defender Scott Galloway handled as Wu Lei tried to cut back inside him on the left corner of the penalty area before Conca tucked away the ensuing spot-kick to goalkeeper Lawrence Kingsley’s left.
Melbourne did pull one back in the 81st minute when Makarounas coolly slotted home substitute Jason Geria’s cut-back from 15 yards, but Shanghai were not to be denied their maiden place in the Round of 16
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