Hulk crushes Seoul

Brazil forward fires SIPG into AFC Champs League last 16

SHANGHAI: Brazil forward Hulk scored a trademark screamer as Andre VillasBoas’ Shanghai SIPG beat FC Seoul 42 to take their place in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League last 16.

In a repeat of his spectacular winner against the same opposition in February, Hulk unleashed a crunching leftfoot shot which flew in for SIPG’s opener on 25 minutes.

Zhang Wei and Wu Lei were also on target before Oscar, Asia’s record signing, added the fourth to keep FC Seoul at bay after their strikes through Maurinho and Park Chuyoung.

It put SIPG through alongside Group F rivals Urawa Red Diamonds, while Thailand’s Muangthong United beat Brisbane Roar 30 to reach the knockouts for the first time.

Xisco nodded Muangthong’s opener on 37 minutes, a goal that ended the involvement of Brisbane goalkeeper Jamie Young who suffered a deep gash to his forearm as he collided with the post.

Chanathip “Messi Jay” Songkrasin beat two defenders and rounded the replacement goalkeeper, Tomislav Bilic, on 83 minutes before Teerasil Dangda added a third just before time.

It meant the end of the road for Brisbane, who fielded an understrength side as they build up to Sunday’s ALeague semifinal against Melbourne Victory.

Earlier, Urawa also eliminated Australian opposition as the JLeague leaders swamped 2014 champions Western Sydney Wanderers 61.

Takahiro Sekine opened the scoring before Yoshiaki Komai set up Zlatan Ljubijankic and then Tadanari Lee for Urawa’s second and third before halftime.

The Wanderers pulled one back through Jumpei Kusukami but Rafael Silva grabbed two goals in eight minutes and then teed up Shinzo Koroki to complete the rout.

In Group E, Kashima Antlers ousted Ulsan Hyundai with a comprehensive 40 win as they reached the last 16 for the first time since 2011.

Ulsan made it to halftime goal less against Kashima but some calamitous defending saw them slip 30 down in the space of 15 secondhalf minutes.

Goalkeeper Kim Yongdae palmed a shot into the path of Mu Kanazaki for the first goal on 52 minutes, before a loose ball in defence was punished by Pedro Junior.

And Yongdae was guilty of a howler when he sliced a clearance to the feet of Kanazaki, who made no mistake from close range. Leo Silva scored the fourth goal on 90 minutes with a fine strike from distance. — AFP