BRAZILIAN striker Hulk scored his third goal in three Asian Champions League matches, helping Shanghai SIPG beat Japanese club Urawa Reds 3-2 Wednesday.

    Hulk, who cost the Chinese team more than US$60 million in June, has now scored in all three victories for the Group F leaders.

    Shi Ke scored the opening goal and Elkeson made it 2-0 with a long-range effort. Hulk then ran past three defenders to score early in the second half. Rafael Silva got one back from the penalty spot and Wataru Endo added a late consolation goal.

    “We were not used to SIPG’s aggressive start in the first half, and didn’t perform well, which led to the early goals,” Urawa head coach Mihailo Petrovic said at the post-match press conference.

    “We made adjustments in the second half. SIPG had the chance to make it 4-0, but missed it. We managed to control the rest of the match better and fought back. If we had more time, it could have been a draw,” the Austrian added.

    Petrovic tipped SIPG as one of the favorites for the continental title.

    Shanghai coach Andre Villas-Boas described the clash as an interesting and emotional game.

    “The players worked hard. The result should have ended at 3-0. They pulled two back, but I don’t think there was any relaxation from the team (after the 3-0 lead). We had chances before the penalty. They are not an easy team to defend against. They were amazing tactically.”

    Villas-Boas said SIPG’s match at Urawa on April 11 would be more difficult.

    Urawa is second in the group ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers, which became the first Australian team to win a match in this season’s competition after a 3-2 victory at FC Seoul.

    (SD-Agencies)