AFC Champions League ‘China Derby’ hopes fade as Perth Glory hold Shanghai Shenhua

Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua have not met this season as Covid-19 Chinese Super League format kept them apart

Choi Kang-hee’s side have it all to do after late draw with next game a must-win against K-League side Ulsan Hyundai

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Shanghai Shenhua’s Alexander N‘Doumbou, also known as Qian Jiegei, reacts as teammate Cao Yunding is shown a red card at the end of their draw with Perth Glory in the AFC Champions League. Photo: EPA

Published: 11:39am, 1 Dec 2020Updated: 11:39am, 1 Dec 2020

The hopes of a China Derby between Beijing Guoan and Shanghai Shenhua in this year’s AFC Champions League took a blow on Monday night when the Shanghai side let in a last gasp goal to draw 3-3 with Perth Glory.

It had all the ingredients of an epic comeback for Choi Kang-hee’s side who almost had one foot in the second round until the late heartbreak. Perth had taken the lead through Bruno Fornaroli’s fine free kick in first-half stoppage time and scored again, with Carlo Armiento doubling the lead just before the hour from another free kick.

Colombian midfielder Gio Moreno, returning to the start line-up for the injury-ravaged Shenhua side, scored a quick-fire brace to level the scores – the first a towering header at the back post and the second reacting quickest to prod home from close range.

Shenhua’s Yu Hanchao curled home on 73 minutes to complete the comeback but it was not to be. Glory’s Neil Kilkenny made no mistake from the penalty spot with five minutes to go.

Those goals from dead balls do not leave them dead and buried in group F but their job to qualify is much harder.

Nothing less than victory over group leaders Ulsan Hyundai will do, as FC Tokyo – who are level on points with Shenhua but ahead on goal difference – take on Perth Glory in a game the J League side are expected to win. The Shanghai side will also have to do it without Cao Yunding who was sent off deep into stoppage time.