Oscar on the spot as SIPG rallies past Wuhan
Shanghai SIPG playmaker Oscar (left) in action during the Chinese Super League match against Wuhan Zall in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on Wednesday. The Brazilian star scored a late penalty as SIPG rallied to win 2-1.
A last-minute winner saw Shanghai SIPG take down Wuhan Zall 2-1 in the Chinese Super League in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, yesterday.
SIPG winger Chen Binbin had the first real chance of the match in the 18th minute, but his header from Oscar’s cross went just over the bar.
Although SIPG dominated possession, Wuhan showed greater efficiency in its attacks and broke the deadlock in the 25th when Zhang Chenlin, who had looked in pain just a few moments earlier, steered home a header from a corner.
SIPG winger Ricardo Lopes sent in several crosses from the left flank at the start of the second half but all were cut out by Wuhan’s stubborn defense. Marko Arnautovic also missed a glorious chance when his close-range effort failed to hit the target in the 53rd.
However, the Austrian striker would not be denied in the 79th as he headed home from Oscar’s corner to tie it up.
The Shanghai side completed its comeback in the last minute of normal time, as Daniel Carrico’s handball gifted SIPG a penalty which Oscar duly converted.
"Wuhan's only chance today was to score that goal. We dominated the whole game and we deserved the victory," said Arnautovic afterwards
With the victory, SIPG stayed second behind Beijing Guoan in Group B. The 2018 CSL champion has 10 points from four games, two behind Beijing, which won its fourth straight by beating Hebei China Fortune 3-1 in Wednesday’s late game.
Last year’s runner-up to Guangzhou Evergrande is now the only team among the 16 in the CSL with four victories out of four.
Shanghai SIPG striker Marko Arnautovic runs with the ball during the CSL match against Wuhan Zall in Suzhou on Wednesday. The Austrian international scored in SIPG's 2-1 victory.
The capital side took the lead in just the 4th minute, as Jin Taiyan's drive appeared to deflect off the goalkeeper and loop into the net.
Zhang Yuning doubled Guoan's lead at the start of the second half, volleying home from Renato Augusto's precise cross.
Hebei pulled a goal back in the 77th, after Mohamed Buya Turay's pass inside the box found Dong Xuesheng, who made no mistake.
Guoan sealed the win in stoppage time, as Cedric Bakambu bamboozled the Hebei defense before presenting Hou Yongyong with a tap-in.
Wuhan is third in the Suzhou group with 6 points, a point ahead of Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, which chalked up its first victory on Tuesday by defeating Tianjin Teda 3-0. Hebei lies seventh in the eight-team group with just 2 points, just ahead of Tianjin on 1.
In the other game on Tuesday, Chongqing Dangdai Lifan drew 0-0 with Qingdao Huanghai in a drab encounter.
Qingdao played most of the match with 10 men after defender Wang Wei was sent off in the 38th for a foul on Polish midfielder Adrian Mierzejewski.
Chongqing and Qingdao both have 3 points.
Group A matches are being played in Dalian, northeastern Liaoning Province.
