Shanghai SIPG secured a slot in the AFC Champions League 2017 by beating Thai Premier League Side Sukhothai FC 3-0, courtesy of a 34th-minute strike from Oscar--the Chinese Super League side's $74-million acquisition from Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Oscar's fine debut promises a glittering future for Shanghai SIPG, which also has other Brazilian world-class talents such as Hulk and Elkeson. The entire match focused on the imbalance between Andre Villas-Boas' expensive side and their opponents, which recently gained promotion in the Thai top tier.
But as ESPNFC reported, the faceoff was hardly a mismatch, with Sukhothai FC serving various challenges to the superior offensive coming out of their Chinese hosts. The likes of Admir Adrovic and Bireme Diouf led the visitors' pressing kind of football.
Nonetheless, Oscar heralded the home side's lead on the 34th minute, for which he caught on Odil Ahmedov's pinpoint assist and fired it towards the corner. The lead started Shanghai SIPG's breakdown of their visitors' momentum.
Elkeson back-heeled in front of goal in the 39th minute to make it 2-0 for Shanghai SIPG, following a mad scramble involving Hulk and Wu Lei, both of which faced an attempt to derail from Diouf. From then on, Sukhothai FC's growing confidence is fast crumbling.
Compounding the visitors' misery is Kiatissak Toopkhuntod's own goal in the 58th minute, following a failed attempt to clear the ball from Elkeson's strike towards the opposition's half. From then on, Shanghai SIPG's dominance loomed over the tired state of their visitors, CCTV reported.
As the game ended, Shanghai SIPG appeared uninterested to capitalize further at Sukhothai FC's expense, as their comfortable score line saw them waste further opportunities to widen it. Nonetheless, the Thai side can be proud of its performance against a mega-money opponent with European experience.
Shanghai SIPG's qualifying win for the AFC Champions League now places them in Group F of the competition, alongside FC Seoul, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Western Sydney Wanderers. Their advancement to the further stages would constitute a significant return on their massive investment.
Watch the highlights of Shanghai SIPG 3-0 Sukhothai FC here: