In a thrilling encounter at Shanghai Municipality, Shanghai Port of the Chinese Super League (CSL) managed to hold Gwangju from South Korea's K League 1 to a 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday. This result keeps Shanghai hopeful of advancing to the knockout stage.
Despite playing at home, Shanghai Port found themselves outmatched in creating scoring opportunities. Gwangju had an early chance in the 10th minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Shanghai maintained their defense against initial attacks but were the first to concede in the 38th minute.
The opening goal came when Gustavo's clearance from the box was met by Heo Yool of Gwangju, who, despite slipping, managed to shoot past the goalkeeper to put his team ahead.
The second half saw Shanghai facing a setback when Wei Zhen was shown a red card for an altercation, reducing Shanghai to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Shanghai remained resilient.
In the 74th minute, Oscar made a decisive move into the box, resulting in a foul that led to a penalty being awarded after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR). Demonstrating composure under pressure, Oscar converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1.
The match remained scoreless in the final minutes, securing a vital point for Shanghai Port. Currently positioned seventh in the East Region with eight points from six games, Shanghai faces tough upcoming fixtures against top contenders Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos. Finishing among the top eight in the region is crucial for advancing to the knockout stage.
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Oscar saves Shanghai against Gwangju in AFC Champions League Elite
cgtn.com