Shanghai SIPG Aim For First CSL Title This Weekend

By Ian Walker, October 29, 2015

Former England international goalkeeper, Ian Walker played for Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers. In 2012 he moved to China to become goalkeeper coach of Shanghai Shenhua, before crossing the city divide to join Shanghai SIPG in 2014. In Walks the Walk he talks football and China. Follow him on Twitter: @IanWalks1

One Last Roll of CSL Dice for SIPG

So the title race is going down to the wire, and the very last game of the Chinese Super League season. In the penultimate game we ran out 2-0 winners in tough conditions away to Changchun, with two goals from Wu Lei. Coming into the changing room, though, we received word Guangzhou Evergrande had won 2-1, a result which meant the league was theirs. Only it wasn’t over. Somebody suddenly shouted that Shandong had equalized against them five minutes into injury time – the very last kick of the game. Cue lots of jumping and cheering. (See highlights of both games, and Wu Lei finding out about the Shandong equalizer, below).

Wu Lei celebrates scoring for Shanghai SIPG

It’s been a long season, and obviously Evergrande are favorites (we need to win our last game, and for them to lose theirs), but we’ve fought hard to get where are we are. Guangzhou have a tough game away to Beijing (who are still chasing a place in the AFC Champions League, so will be giving 110 percent) while we have a very winnable fixture at home to Liaoning. Our target was always to qualify for the Champions League, which we have secured, but we’ll see how it plays out. As a wise man once said – it’s a funny old game!

Guangzhou Kings of the Continent?

Talking about Guangzhou Evergrande, they have also made it to the final of the AFC Champions League for the second time in three years (having been crowned champions of the continent back in 2013). I watched their semifinal against Gamba Osaka and it was a hard-fought victory, Evergrande defending well to the end and deserving to get through. They are a very strong side.

Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate winning the 2013 AFC Champions League
Guangzhou Evergrande lift the 2013 AFC Champions League trophy

Evergrande take on Emiratis team Al-Ahli in the two-legged final, with the second leg at home, which is always seen as an advantage. Add to that the fact a West Asian team has not beaten an East Asian team in the final since 2011, and the omens are looking good. If they can win, it’ll be another great achievement for them, and another great achievement for Chinese football. It would also give us something to emulate next season, now that we’ve secured our spot in the competition. We’re already looking forward to the draw.

Shanghai Shenhua Up for FA Cup

We may not be the only Shanghai team in the AFC Champions League draw next season, with Shenhua looking to qualify by winning the FA Cup. They knocked us out on penalties in the quarterfinal after a 3-3 thriller, which was obviously disappointing for us. They then beat second tier team Beijing Baxi in the semis, and now face Jiangsu over two legs in the final. I’m sure they’re relishing the prospect of pulling off something special.

Demba Ba and Tim Cahill send Shanghai Shenhua into the FA Cup Final

Two Shanghai teams in the Champions League would be amazing. It is an incredible story for SIPG too. The club only entered the league in 2006, steadily climbing through the divisions. Within a decade we’re competing in the biggest competition in Asia. Take Wu Lei, for example – he came through the Genbao Academy, made his professional debut at just 14, and has played for the club all his life. Fairytale stuff. But let’s get back to the task at hand. I’m off to organize a whip round with the lads – we’ll send some money up to Beijing in the hope of securing a favorable result!