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AFC
Doha
Shanghai Shenhua missed a chance to boost their 2020 AFC Champions League knockout stage prospects as they were held to a gripping 3-3 draw by already-eliminated Perth Glory on Monday.
A pair of superb free-kicks from Bruno Fornaroli and Carlo Armiento had the Australians in sight of their first ever win the competition, but Shenhua came roaring back with a brace from Givoanni Moreno, and Yu Hanchao then had them ahead in the 73rd minute, before Neil Kilkenny salvaged Perth’s maiden point from the penalty spot.
The result means Choi Kang-hee’s side are level with second-placed FC Tokyo on seven points, with Thursday’s final round of Group F matches to determine who advances.
In a thrill-a-minute contest the chances flowed from the early stages, with Moreno forcing a stop from returning Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy, before Daniel Stynes asked the question of Shenhua custodian Li Shuai at the other end.
Dane Ingham was also denied twice by Li, although he should have done better with his tame effort after some terrific build-up in the 34th minute, while Shenhua’s Liu Ruofan had one effort blocked on the goal line by Jonathan Aspropotamitis and another impressively saved by Reddy.
Fornaroli showed them all how it was done in the second minute of injury time, picking out the top corner with a scorching 25-yard free kick to put Perth ahead at half-time, giving the Uruguayan his first career goal in Asian competition.
Perth were very nearly caught cold at the beginning of the second half, with another important Reddy stop denying Bi Jinhao, and Shenhua were on top for the much of the following stages, but they fell further behind to another direct free-kick in the 58th minute.
This latest piece of set piece wizardry was executed by Carlo Armiento, who scored with his very first kick of the ball, and less than a minute after replacing Daniel Stynes, with Li failing to keep the 20-yard effort out despite getting a hand to it.
Any expectation that Perth’s first ACL win would come easily was quickly dismissed when Moreno pulled a goal back for Shenhua four minutes later, with the Colombian star climbing the highest to head home Cao Yunding’s floated cross.
Fornaroli squandered a gilt-edged chance to restore Perth’s two-goal buffer in the 65th minute, and he was made to rue his miss when Moreno poked home the equaliser seven minutes, with his 190-centimetre frame too much for 16-year-old Perth defender Josh Rawlins to handle.
Shenhua were now in full flight, and they went ahead just a minute later when Yu continued his terrific form by curling in his third of the tournament from 20 yards.
That looked to be the winning goal, but Perth – who had fallen victim to late collapses in their two previous matches against Ulsan Hyundai – wouldn’t leave empty handed this time, with Kilkenny calmly slotting home an 86th minute spot-kick after Stephane M’Bia had clumsily fouled Armiento.
A stop from Reddy denied a last-gasp from Yu while Cao Yunding was sent off after the final whistle of the thrilling tie.
Shanghai Shenhua’s fate now rests on the group’s final Matchday. The Chinese side will face group winners Ulsan Hyundai, while FC Tokyo will meet Perth.
Doha
Shanghai Shenhua missed a chance to boost their 2020 AFC Champions League knockout stage prospects as they were held to a gripping 3-3 draw by already-eliminated Perth Glory on Monday.
A pair of superb free-kicks from Bruno Fornaroli and Carlo Armiento had the Australians in sight of their first ever win the competition, but Shenhua came roaring back with a brace from Givoanni Moreno, and Yu Hanchao then had them ahead in the 73rd minute, before Neil Kilkenny salvaged Perth’s maiden point from the penalty spot.
The result means Choi Kang-hee’s side are level with second-placed FC Tokyo on seven points, with Thursday’s final round of Group F matches to determine who advances.
In a thrill-a-minute contest the chances flowed from the early stages, with Moreno forcing a stop from returning Perth goalkeeper Liam Reddy, before Daniel Stynes asked the question of Shenhua custodian Li Shuai at the other end.
Dane Ingham was also denied twice by Li, although he should have done better with his tame effort after some terrific build-up in the 34th minute, while Shenhua’s Liu Ruofan had one effort blocked on the goal line by Jonathan Aspropotamitis and another impressively saved by Reddy.
Fornaroli showed them all how it was done in the second minute of injury time, picking out the top corner with a scorching 25-yard free kick to put Perth ahead at half-time, giving the Uruguayan his first career goal in Asian competition.
Perth were very nearly caught cold at the beginning of the second half, with another important Reddy stop denying Bi Jinhao, and Shenhua were on top for the much of the following stages, but they fell further behind to another direct free-kick in the 58th minute.
This latest piece of set piece wizardry was executed by Carlo Armiento, who scored with his very first kick of the ball, and less than a minute after replacing Daniel Stynes, with Li failing to keep the 20-yard effort out despite getting a hand to it.
Any expectation that Perth’s first ACL win would come easily was quickly dismissed when Moreno pulled a goal back for Shenhua four minutes later, with the Colombian star climbing the highest to head home Cao Yunding’s floated cross.
Fornaroli squandered a gilt-edged chance to restore Perth’s two-goal buffer in the 65th minute, and he was made to rue his miss when Moreno poked home the equaliser seven minutes, with his 190-centimetre frame too much for 16-year-old Perth defender Josh Rawlins to handle.
Shenhua were now in full flight, and they went ahead just a minute later when Yu continued his terrific form by curling in his third of the tournament from 20 yards.
That looked to be the winning goal, but Perth – who had fallen victim to late collapses in their two previous matches against Ulsan Hyundai – wouldn’t leave empty handed this time, with Kilkenny calmly slotting home an 86th minute spot-kick after Stephane M’Bia had clumsily fouled Armiento.
A stop from Reddy denied a last-gasp from Yu while Cao Yunding was sent off after the final whistle of the thrilling tie.
Shanghai Shenhua’s fate now rests on the group’s final Matchday. The Chinese side will face group winners Ulsan Hyundai, while FC Tokyo will meet Perth.
