Although Shanghai seaport did not send the strongest lineup, the national football front line pillar Wu Lei, the core of the back line Zhang Linmiao and foreign stars Chitadini are unable to play due to injury, but with 34 goals, the team is still the best scorer in the Chinese Super League.
Facing Ulsan HD, Shanghai Seaport's starting lineup and substitutes are as follows: goalkeeper Yan Junling, defenders Li Ang, Wang Shenchao, Wei Zhen, Yang Shiyuan, and Li Shuai, midfielders Oscar (F), Vargas (F), Xu Xin (68th minute for Gustavo (F)), and Lv Wengjun (36th minute for Wang Zhen'ao), and striker William Pope (F). Also on the bench were Chen Wei, Du Jia, Cai Huikang, Fu Huan, Bao Shimeng, Liu Zhuyun, Chen Shuhuang and Liu Xiaolong.
Oscar, a former Brazilian international who played for Chelsea in the English Premier League, was honored as the Super League's assist leader with 20 assists. He contributed three assists in the match. Argentine striker Vargas, who played in Spain in La Liga, scored a hat-trick. Shanghai Harbor took a two-goal lead early in the game. Though the opponents pushed the score to 1-2 in the second half, Shanghai Seaport eventually won 3-1.
With the three points, Shanghai Harbour are eighth in the AFC Elite League's East Asia Division and are in a key position for promotion and relegation with Johor Bahru, Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan on seven points.
Gwangju FC is in relegation trouble in the Korean K-League, but is making a strong showing in the AFC Elite League. In the final round of the competition, only one foreign player, Asani, came on as a substitute and helped Gwangju FC beat Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 at home with a winning goal, placing them in second place with 12 points. With this win, Gwangju FC is expected to lock up the top eight early and advance to the knockout stage.
Three injured players from Shanghai Seaport, Wu Lei, Zhang Linmiao and Chitadini, will still miss the match, while Li Ang is suspended for a red card. Gwangju FC's Asani and Mikel Tazer, on the other hand, did not come to China with the team.
What will be the outcome of this matchup between Gwangju FC and Shanghai Seaport?
