Shanghai seaport did not play the main force, the national football front line pillar Wu Lei, the core of the defenders Zhang Lin Miao and foreign aid Chitadini due to injuries did not play, but in spite of this, they are still honored with the Golden Boot of the Chinese Super League with 34 goals.
Away to Ulsan HD, Shanghai Seaport fielded the following starting lineup and substitutes: Goalkeeper No. 1 Yan Junling, Defenders No. 2 Li Ang, No. 4 Wang Shenchao, No. 13 Wei Zhen, No. 20 Yang Shiyuan, No. 32 Li Shuai, Midfielders No. 8 Oscar (F), No. 10 Vargas (F), No. 16 Xu Xin (68th min. for No. 9 Gustavo (F), and Lv Wengjun (36th min. for No. 19 Wang Zhenao), No. 30 William Pope (F).
The bench also includes No. 12 Chen Wei, No. 25 Du Jia, 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.
Former Brazilian international Oscar, who played for Chelsea in the English Premier League, was crowned the Chinese Super League's assist leader with 20 assists, and he contributed three assists in this match. Argentinean scorer Vargas, who played in Spain's La Liga, scored a hat-trick as Shanghai Seaport built up an early two-goal advantage. Although the opponents made it 1-2 in the second half, Shanghai Seaport sealed the win with a 3-1 victory.
With this win, Shanghai Seaport moved up to eighth place in the AFC Elite League East Asia Division standings, and are in a delicate situation with seven points alongside powerhouses such as Johor Bahru, Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan.
Gwangju FC are in the relegation zone in the Korean K-League, but they are doing well in the AFC Elite League. In the final round, only one foreign player, Asani, scored the winning goal after coming on as a substitute, helping Gwangju FC beat Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 at home, taking the second place with 12 points. With a win, Gwangju FC is expected to lock up a spot in the top eight and advance to the knockout stage.
Given that Shanghai Seaport's three key players Wu Lei, Zhang Linmiao and Chitardini are out of action due to injuries, and Li Ang is suspended due to a red card, Gwangju FC's Arsani and Mikel Tazer are also not traveling with the team. So, can Gwangju FC turn the tables on Shanghai Seaport's home ground?
