Football
Michael Church, Asia correspondent 8y

Shanghai Hulk hailed by Sven-Goran Eriksson after netting brace

Shanghai SIPG manager Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed the belated impact of Chinese Super League record signing Hulk after he scored both goals in his side's 2-2 draw with Beijing Guoan on Friday evening.

Hulk claimed a brace as he returned from an injury that had limited him to just 17 minutes of action since joining the club from Zenit St Petersburg for a record €55 million in June.

The former Porto forward opened the scoring with a blistering left foot drive from long range before goals from Burak Yilmaz and Lei Tenglong gave Beijing the lead, only for the Brazil international to earn his side a point with a penalty in the final minute.

"I'm happy Hullk could score twice in these 90 minutes," the former England manager said. "Considering the last time he only played for 17 minutes, today should be considered his official debut. I hope he can stay away from injury and get better and better. He is capable of changing a match.

"His first goal is like his signature, the goalkeeper wasn't able to react. It was outstanding."

The draw keeps Shanghai SIPG in fourth in the Chinese Super League standings, one point behind local rivals Shanghai Shenhua as they prepare for the second leg of their Asian Champions League quarterfinal next week.

Shanghai travel to face South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors on Tuesday after the teams shared a scoreless draw in the first leg last month.

"It was a fair game," Eriksson said of the draw with Beijing. "I'm not very satisfied with the result though. We managed to equalise when we were 2-1 behind, so that is a good part. But we have to do better next Tuesday in the Asian Champions League."

^ Back to Top ^