WATCH: Shanghai and Guangzhou in Epic Champions League Clash

By Ned Kelly, September 13, 2017

Shanghai SIPG progressed to the semi-final of the AFC Champions League after surviving a Guangzhou Evergrande typhoon at Tianhe Stadium last night.

Leading 4-0 from the first leg at Shanghai Stadium a fortnight ago, the second leg looked all set to be a formality. However, two goals from Brazilian Alan in the first half put Evergrande back in the tie.

After weathering a storm of second half pressure, SIPG finally conceded a third from a Goulart diving header with seven minutes to go. A fourth seemed almost inevitable by now, and Brazilian Goulart duly popped up to head in his second, and send the game to extra time.

Things only got worse for SIPG when defender Wang Jiajie was dismissed for his second yellow card after 97 minutes. Yet three minutes later Hulk looked to have won it for the visitors with a sublime free kick.

But the tie was not over. With three minutes on the clock Wang Shenchao pulled down Muriqui in the box, receiving his second yellow, and ensuring SIPG ended the match with just nine players on the field.

Goulart dispatched the resulting penalty, to complete his hatrick and draw the tie level at 5-5. And with away goals not counting in extra time in the AFC Champions League, the tie was to be decided by a penalty shootout.

Hatrick hero Goulart stepped up first, only to hit the inside of the post and see the ball flash across the goal and out. With no mistakes from the next eight penalty takers, it rested on the shoulders of Yu Hai to seal an epic win for Shanghai SIPG.

The China international obliged, placing it bottom right and sending SIPG into pandemonium, and two-time Asian Champions Evergrande into despair.

Watch below (VPN off):

Shanghai SIPG will now meet either Urawa Red Diamonds or Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in the semi-final. Those ties will be played on September 27 and October 18, with a draw to establish the order of home and away.

Evergrande have a shot at revenge over SIPG in the FA Cup semi-final second leg at the end of the month, although they trail 2-1 from the first leg at Shanghai Stadium. The return leg is as follows.

FA Cup semi final second leg:
Sep 30, 7.35pm, Guangzhou Evergrande vs Shanghai SIPG, Tianhe Stadium.

[Image via Shanghai Observer]