Shenhua make winning start in Asian Champions League

Peng Xinli put the Chinese giants ahead in the seventh minute and Yu Hanchao consolidated in the 38th before Jonathan Aspropotamitis pulled one back for the Australians nine minutes from time at the air-conditioned Education City Stadium.

Shenhua’s South Korean coach Choi Kang-hee had voiced pessimism over his team’s chances at his press conference on Tuesday, saying a spate of injuries had left his side facing a crisis of sorts in the coronavirus-hit tournament.

“We just finished our Chinese Super League season and we have some problems with injuries,” said Choi, who guided South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors to the title in 2006 and 2016.

“For us, our team selection is incomplete. It’s a pity. For this team it is quite difficult because we have so many injuries, especially for the first three matches. It’s going to be a big problem for this team.”

But going by their performance on Wednesday much of his fears seemed exaggerated as Shenhua dominated the exchanges in Doha, where the matches in AFC’s eastern zone are also being played in a bio-secure bubble.

The west zone matches concluded in October in Doha with Iran’s Persepolis reaching the final, which will also be played in the Qatari capital on December 19.

Shenhua were playing their first match of the tournament and the three points they gained saw them jump to the second spot in their group behind FC Tokyo who had already played two matches before the pandemic forced a stop to proceedings in February.

They took charge of the match early, Zhu Jianrong making his way up on the left flank before passing to Peng who took advantage of some weak defending by the Australians to fire home past goalkeeper Tando Velaphi.

Perth Glory though got their act together soon enough and kept possession most of the time but that didn’t prevent Shenhua from finding the net again.

Peng this time was the provider as the veteran Chinese international Yu latched on to his pass after a quick one-two outside the box and cut in from the left before drilling his shot under Velaphi’s arms from a difficult angle much to the goalkeeper’s embarrassment.

Perth returned from the break with renewed vigour but the Chinese defence managed to keep them at arm’s length for a considerable period of time.

But they eventually did find their first ever Champions League goal with Aspropotamitis firing home from close after Shenhua goalkeeper Shuai Li had spilled an earlier effort from Carlo Armiento.

For Perth Glory, this was their second straight defeat, having lost their opening match to FC Tokyo 1-0 back in February and would need to reverse the tide if they are to qualify for the knockout phase of the tournament.