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AFC Champions League
SportChina

Hulk hits double but Shanghai SIPG’s AFC Champions League ‘dream’ is over after they crash out to Kashima

The Japanese side becomes the last side to seal a spot in the quarter-finals, yet they did it the hard way, losing 2-1 on a sweltering and nervy night in Shanghai

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Shanghai SIPG’s Hulk battles for the ball during the AFC Champions League aggregate loss to Kashima Antlers. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse
Brazilian striker Hulk returned from injury to score twice for Shanghai SIPG but the Chinese side were dumped out of the Asian Champions League 4-3 on aggregate by Kashima Antlers on Wednesday.

The Japanese became the last side to seal a spot in the quarter-finals, yet they did it the hard way, losing 2-1 on a sweltering and nervy night in Shanghai.

Vitor Pereira’s Shanghai join Chinese Super League (CSL) champions Guangzhou Evergrande in tumbling out of the competition at the last-16 stage.
Shanghai SIPG’s Oscar fights for the ball with Kashima Antlers’ Ryota Nagaki (centre right). Photo: AFP
Shanghai SIPG’s Oscar fights for the ball with Kashima Antlers’ Ryota Nagaki (centre right). Photo: AFP
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Hulk, the €55.8 million (US$66 million) forward who missed the 3-1 first-leg defeat in Japan, returned to captain the hosts and needed just seven minutes to make his mark.

Shoma Doi levelled for Kashima before Hulk scored a penalty with nine minutes left to set up a dramatic finale.

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But Shanghai were unable to find the goal to force extra time and Hulk said: “I feel full of pity because we had the dream of the Asian title, but now it is over.

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