In the 27th minute, Vargas came close to a hat-trick, but was undone by an opponent's foul, failing to step inside the penalty area. Immediately after that, Ulsan HD launched a quick counterattack, and Li Ang received a red card for an inadvertent foul, which instantly put SIPG in an unfavorable situation of ten against eleven.
Towards the end of the first half, SIPG was challenged. However, at the start of the second half, Muscat decisively adjusted his tactics and adopted an aggressive attacking strategy, fully demonstrating his technical and tactical skills and exquisite footwork.
Even when facing an opponent with one less player on the road and a two-goal lead, Muscat still boldly replaced the player in the back position with an attacking winger, a decision that ultimately led to Vargas's hat-trick. Visible, the Chinese super team in the AFC Champions League to win on the road, just rely on sneak attack is not enough, the key must also show their own style and strength.
Despite the numerical disadvantage in the second half, Shanghai Hong Kong had five shots on goal, a statistic that fully reflects the strength and style they possess as the double champions of the Chinese Super League.
Behind this victory, apart from Vargas, another player who has to be mentioned is Stanley Wong. From the AFC Cup final to this AFC Champions League match, the veteran has maintained a high level of performance despite the team's tight manpower situation.
Stanley Wang has become an indispensable pillar of the team with his technical awareness and play at critical moments. Whether it's Wu Lei, Stanley Wang, or Lu Wenjun, they are all valuable assets to Shanghai Seaport. The young players still have a lot to learn from these veterans in terms of detail handling.
