Incredible Hulk powers Shanghai SIPG to victory

SEOUL: Brazilian forward Hulk blasted Shanghai SIPG to a 10 victory over FC Seoul but the bigspending Chinese giants needed to survive a penalty and a red card before winning their AFC Champions League opener.

Hulk’s rocket of a strike on 53 minutes got Andre VillasBoas’ team off to a winning start in Group F, where they lie second on goal difference after Urawa Red Diamonds’ 40 demolition of Western Sydney Wanderers.

In Group E, Kashima Antlers beat Ulsan Hyundai 20 and Brisbane Roar were held to a 00 home draw by Thailand’s Muangthong United.

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SIPG have splashed out 60mil (RM283mil) on Brazilian midfielder Oscar, among other buys, in their bid for glory after they reached last year’s quarterfinals under SvenGoran Eriksson.

But a speculative effort from Hulk and another shot way over the bar from the Brazilian were the closest SIPG came in a tepid first half in front of a noisy Seoul crowd.

At the other end, Dejan Damjanovic had a chance to finish off a sweeping move from the hosts but the Montenegrin striker shot tamely at goalkeeper Yoo Hyun from close range.

Oscar’s most significant moment of the first half came when he petulantly raised his hand to Lee Sangho’s throat and shoved the Seoul forward, earning a yellow card.

But the muscular Hulk brought the game to life with a moment of magic on 53 minutes, when he smashed a leftfooted shot from well outside the box which swerved into the top corner.

Six minutes later Damjanovic tumbled in the box, earning a soft penalty and a second yellow card for He Guan – but the striker’s scuffed spotkick was easily saved by SIPG’s Yan Junling.

Earlier, Japan’s Urawa smashed four secondhalf goals past Western Sydney Wanderers to open their campaign with a thumping 40 win.

Shinzo Koroki and Tadanari Lee struck within two minutes of each other before Tomoaki Makino and Rafael Silva also got on the scoresheet as the Group F visitors ran riot in Sydney. – AFP