There was a win and a loss as the curtain came down on the AFC Champions League group stage for Western Sydney Wanderers and Brisbane Roar on Wednesday night.
The Wanderers ended their ACL campaign on a high with an entertaining 3-2 over Shanghai SIPG at Campbelltown Stadium.
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A remarkable first half saw four goals scored after the opening 24 minutes before substitute Jaushua Sotirio’s late winner minutes from full time sealed what was a memorable win for the Wanderers.
Shanghai got off to the best possible start when Wu Lei fired home from the edge of the box after just 21 seconds.
Far from stunned, the Wanderers were quick to reply just two minutes later as Jumpei Kusukami latched onto a clever through ball from Terry Antonis before poking past Sun Le in goal.
It would soon be three goals in six minutes when Steven Lustica put the home side 2-1 up, powering home from close range after a smart cutback from Kusukami.
The hectic start to the game continued when after 24 minutes Shanghai were awarded a penalty when Aritz Borda was adjudged to have fouled Elkeson in the area.
Elkeson stepped up and converted straight down the middle to make it 2-2.
The Wanderers would find their winner just minutes from full time, as Jaushua Sotirio finished off from close range after some neat interplay between Nicolás Martinez and Kusukami.
Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar closed out their ACL campaign with a 3-2 loss to Ulsan Hyundai, despite a superb Jamie Maclaren double.
Maclaren combined with Brandon Borrello for Brisbane’s two goals, but sloppy defensive mistakes kept the Roar from building any real momentum.
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The Roar went behind early after Suh Myeongwon’s cross squirmed past Jamie Young, but it wasn’t long before Borrello and Maclaren linked up to pull the Roar level.
Borrello ghosted into space on the right and cut onto his left before delivering a sublime low cross for Maclaren to tap home at the back post.
The Borrello-Maclaren double act wasn’t done for the night; the duo were on the same page again to give Brisbane the lead as the first half wound down.
Maclaren’s first-half double makes it 43 Roar goals in 60 appearances across all competitions.
After the break Roar was punished for their inability to find a third goal. Tommy Oar left his backpass far too short and Nam Heecheol seized the chance, calmly finishing past Young to tie it up.
Ulsan’s Kim Yongjin then got a late winner, tracking a deep free-kick to the back post and diverting it past Young.
