Football
Michael Church, Asia correspondent 8y

Sven-Goran Eriksson: SIPG 'collapsed mentally' in Jeonbuk ACL defeat

Sven-Goran Eriksson rued his Shanghai SIPG team's luck after the Chinese Super League (CSL) side were handed a 5-0 thrashing by South Korean champions Jeonbuk Motors on Tuesday evening that knocked them out of the Asian Champions League.

The teams shared a goalless encounter in the first leg of the quarterfinal in Shanghai three weeks ago, but a brace each for Leonardo and Lee Dong-Gook, and an own goal from Shi Ke, condemned Eriksson's team to an ignominious exit with Lu Wenjun's sending off 16 minutes from time ensuring no way back for SIPG.

"First of all, we gave a good account of ourselves in the first half against a strong team," Eriksson said after the game. "I was proud of my team as we kept a clean sheet in the first 45 minutes. All the players played well but we didn't have much luck and then got a bad result.

"After the red card in the second half, we collapsed mentally. Of course, we had already conceded but after the dismissal we did not play the way we wanted to play."

Jeonbuk took the lead through Leonardo in the 52nd minute before Shi's own goal six minutes later left Shanghai chasing the game. Lu's dismissal was followed soon after by the introduction of Lee off the bench, and the former South Korea international scored twice in the final six minutes after Leonardo had claimed his second of the night.

"We knew that Jeonbuk were strong in attack but we didn't defend the way we wanted to," Eriksson added. "If we had scored first then the whole atmosphere of the game would have changed."

The defeat means Shanghai's season risks running out of steam in the final weeks of the campaign. Eriksson's side are currently fourth in the CSL standings after finishing as runners-up last year and, with only six games remaining, time is running out for the club secure a place in next year's Asian Champions League (ACL).

"Through this kind of experience, the players will learn and will refocus their efforts on appearing in the competition again," the former England manager said. "This is the first time for Shanghai to be in the ACL. I am satisfied overall with how we have performed but I am not satisfied with tonight's result."

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