Shanghai: Urawa Red Diamonds seized a narrow advantage in the first leg of their 2017 AFC Champions League semi-final against Shanghai SIPG on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 away from home.
Takafumi Hori’s side put in a disciplined showing at Shanghai Stadium, but also had luck on their side as dogged defending, intelligent forward play, and the woodwork thwarted SIPG’s Brazilian stars.
Hulk a marked man
Hulk has been the standout performer in this year’s AFC Champions League, scoring in every game he’s played, including another pile-driver in the 15th minute of this encounter.
Tomoaki Makino – usually an attack-minded full- or wing-back who lives by the adage of defence being the best form of attack – was the latest man given the unenviable task of stifling the 31-year-old.
Makino reined himself in well here, barely leaving his own half and sticking to Hulk like glue for nigh-on the full 90 minutes, with four of his five fouls conceded coming against the Brazil international.
Koroki stretches the pitch
One way to stop SIPG from threatening in front of goal is by forcing as many of their players as possible back into their own defensive third.
These were clearly the instructions given to Shinzo Koroki, with the Urawa striker often seeming happy to stray deliberately offside to enable teammates to get up in support.
While the flag went up on three occasions he timed it just right for the one that mattered though, receiving a ball over the top and nudging it back for Yosuke Kashiwagi to convert in the 28th minute.
Oscar’s drought continues
Oscar must be wondering what he has to do to score against Urawa.
The 26-year-old missed two penalties in the 1-0 defeat in Saitama on Matchday 4, and had six attempts on goal here too without finding the net.
Of those efforts half hit the target, with another thumping against the post from a 25-yard free-kick in the 69th minute to leave the Brazil forward goalless in the ACL since he netted the fourth in the 4-2 win over FC Seoul on Matchday 5.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com