Opinion | Chinese FA Cup delivers drama and heartbreak as ‘China’s Manchester United’ crash out to Super League leaders Beijing Guoan

Table toppers punish misfiring Shanghai SIPG as another chance for silverware slips through their fingers

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Shanghai Shenhua lift the CFA Cup last season after a two-leg win over ‘China’s Manchester United’, Shanghai SIPG. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:47pm, 26 Jul 2018Updated: 1:47pm, 26 Jul 2018

“The magic of the cup” is the cliche of choice when it comes to the English FA Cup but if it’s played out for the world’s oldest cup competition then it can happily – rather than glibly – be applied to the Chinese equivalent.

On Wednesday night, Beijing Guoan met Shanghai SIPG in Shanghai and the Chinese Super League leaders came in to town in fine form, having played their way to the top of the table since the teams returned from an extended summer break – to add extra spice, the side they replaced at the top were their hosts.

The first leg had ended 2-1 to the capital club but SIPG raced to a 2-0 lead before the break and as time ticked down in the second half, they were looking sure to reach the semi-finals.

Then a free kick was given in the 94th minute and Jonathan Viera stepped up to fire past Yan Junling, forcing extra time with the scores level at 3-3 on aggregate. Drama.

The game petered out to penalties and after Elkeson missed Guoan’s Renato Augusto scored to make sure they would have at least one more round in the Yanjing Beer 2018 CFA Cup.

Elkeson missing, as he failed to take chances to put the game to bed within normal time, is apt.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Table toppers punish misfiring Shanghai SIPG as another chance for silverware slips through their fingers

Table toppers punish misfiring Shanghai SIPG as another chance for silverware slips through their fingers