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Hulk leads SIPG; Reds also advance

AFPSHANGHAI (AFP-Jiji) — Brazilian forward Hulk scored a trademark screamer as Andre Villas-Boas’s Shanghai SIPG beat FC Seoul 4-2 to take its place in the AFC Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

In a repeat of his spectacular winner against the same opposition in February, Hulk unleashed a crunching left-foot shot that flew in for SIPG’s opener on 25 minutes.

Zhang Wei and Wu Lei were also on target before Oscar, Asia’s record signing, added the fourth to keep FC Seoul at bay after their strikes through Maurinho and Park Chu-Young. It put SIPG into the knockouts alongside their Group F rival Urawa Reds, who swept Western Sydney Wanderers aside 6-1 to end the interest of the 2014 champions.

Rafael Silva’s late double was the highlight as J.League leader Urawa scored three in each half to keep up the hunt for its first Asian title in 10 years.

Takahiro Sekine shot just wide in the early exchanges but he soon got Urawa off the mark when he fired home from Yuki Muto’s cross on 14 minutes. Yoshiaki Komai played in Zlatan Ljubijankic for Urawa’s second 4 minutes later and he then laid on Tadanari Lee for a simple finish just before halftime.

The Wanderers pulled one back through Jumpei Kusukami but Brazil’s Silva grabbed two goals in 8 minutes and then set up Shinzo Koroki as the game finished 6-1.

In Group E, Kashima Antlers ousted Ulsan Hyundai with a stunning second half when they scored four unanswered goals to run out 4-0 winners.

Ulsan made it to half-time goalless against Kashima but some calamitous defending saw them slip 3-0 down in the space of 15 second-half minutes.

Preview: Zamalek out for third straight win under Inacio at lowly Tanta

Zamalek will be looking for their third win in a row under manager Augusto Inacio when they travel to 14^th-placed Tanta in the Egyptian league on Friday.

After enduring a disappointing debut as Zamalek boss, having slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Enppi, Portuguese manager Inacio led his side to a convincing 3-0 win over Talae El-Geish before edging out Masry 1-0 last week.

And in his bid to get the Whites back on track after uncharacteristically losing five successive league games, including a game against Maqassa that the club forfeited, Inacio will be keen to register his third win against lowly Tanta.

Zamalek have virtually lost hope of a top-two finish after seeing the gap with second-placed Maqassa extended to 14 points, and Inacio's focus should be on finishing third to seal CAF Confederation Cup qualification.

He will be keen to make the most of the upcoming league games also to prepare his side for their Champions League group-stage campaign – which is due to start next month.

Zamalek will be missing playmaker Ayman Hefni after sustaining an injury against Masry, whereas young left-back Ahmed Fatouh is suspended after collecting a third yellow card.

Midfielder Mahmoud Abdel-Aati and striker Ahmed Gaafar have both made the squad, as the absence of Hossam Salama continues.

EGYPT: Premier League - finished

	StandingsEGYPT: Premier League
	10:45	Finished	Petrojet	0 - 1	Nasr Taadeen	(0 - 0)
	13:00	Finished	Wadi Degla	2 - 2	Smouha	(0 - 1)
	15:15	Finished	Arab Contractors	0 - 0	Enppi	(0 - 0)