The team didn't give their best in Shanghai Harbour's AFC Champions League campaign, with national soccer star striker Wu Lei, as well as defense pillar Zhang Linmiao and foreigner Chitadini all missing due to injuries, but even so, the team still managed to win the Chinese Super League's Golden Boot with 34 goals.
For this away match against Ulsan HD, Shanghai Seaport's starting lineup is as follows: goalkeeper No. 1 Yan Junling, defenders No. 2 Li Ang, No. 4 Wang Shenchao, No. 13 Wei Zhen, No. 20 Yang Shiyuan, midfielder No. 32 Li Shuai, and No. 8 Oscar (forward), with substitutes No. 10 Vargas (forward), No. 16 Xu Xin (replaced by No. 9 Gustavo in the 68th minute), Lv Wengjun (replaced by No. 19 Wang Zhenao in the 36th minute) ) and No. 30 William Pope (forward).
The list of substitutes also includes No. 12 Chen Wei, No. 25 Dujia, No. 6 Cai Huikang, No. 23 Fu Huan, No. 31 Bao Shimeng, No. 33 Liu Zhurun, No. 37 Chen Xu Huang, and No. 45 Liu Xiaolong.
It is worth mentioning that former Brazilian international Oscar, who used to play for Chelsea in the English Premier League, was crowned as the assist king of the Chinese Super League with 20 assists, and contributed three assists in this game. Argentine striker Vargas, after his experience in Spain in La Liga, scored a hat-trick to help Shanghai Seaport take an early two-goal lead. Although the opponents once tied the score to 1-2 in the second half, Shanghai Seaport finally sealed the victory with 3-1.
With the win, Shanghai Seaport climbed to eighth place in the AFC East Asian Champions League, in a delicate situation with Johor Bahru, Shanghai Shenhua, Shandong Taishan and Thai powerhouse Buriram United on seven points.
On the contrary, Gwangju FC, despite being in relegation crisis in the Korean K-League, they have been in eye-catching form in the AFC Elite League. In the final round of the tournament, only one foreign player, Asani, who came on as a substitute, scored the winning goal to help Gwangju FC beat Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 at home and ranked second with 12 points. If they win this game, they are expected to lock up the top eight early and advance to the knockout stage.
Notably, Shanghai Seaport's three injured players Wu Lei, Zhang Linmiao and Chitardini are expected to remain out, while Li Ang will be suspended for a red card. For Gwangju FC, Asani and Mikel Tazer did not travel with the team to Shanghai.
So, can Gwangju FC turn the tables at home in Shanghai Seaport? Let's wait and see.
