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Asian Champions League exits for Portuguese bosses: Vítor Pereira laments Hulk absence as Rui Vitória rages at late penalty decision

Portugal was represented by four managers when the last-16 of the Asian Champions League began this summer but as the semi-final line-up was finalised this week, all four representatives have suffered elimination earlier than hoped.

Quarter-final exits for Vítor Pereira and Rui Vitória saw them join José Morais and Rui Faria in missing out on a place at the business end of Asia’s premier club competition. And for both Pereira and Vitória, there was plenty of regret about the nature of their failure to reach the final four.

Former Porto boss Pereira took Shanghai SIPG, with whom he won the Chinese CSL last season, to Japan to face Urawa Reds on Tuesday with a 2-2 draw from the first meeting on home soil representing a far from comforting result. Shanghai had come from 2-0 down to draw in Shanghai, but 2017 Asian champions Urawa presented a formidable opponent.

The task was made all the more difficult for Pereira by the suspension of influential former Dragão hero Hulk, while key man Odil Ahmedov was ruled out through injury. Matters were made worse midway through the first half when Yang Shiyuan was forced off and Shinzo Koroki gave Urawa a half time lead in Saitama.

Shanghai needed two goals to progress, but right-back Wang Shenchao’s equaliser on the hour was all they could manage and Pereira was left to count the cost of a disappointing outcome. “For this game we had a lot of problems,” Pereira admitted after the match. “The injury of Odil, Hulk out because of the yellow card, Shi Ke had a fever and we only knew at the last minute if he could play - he tried and he did well - and after that, the injury of Yang."

“We tried everything. We played with spirit in the second half and we tried until the end to score the second goal. Of course I’m sad because of the result, but there’s nothing I can say about my team because all the players tried to do their best and this is our commitment and this is what is important in this situation.

“We did what we could today, I’m happy with my players. They fought a lot and they tried to get a result to go forward in this competition, but that was impossible.”

Having led Shanghai to their first-ever CSL title last year, Pereira is almost certain to end this season in less glorious fashion. The team currently sit 3rd in the league, 6 points off the top with six rounds of matches to play, while defeat in the Chinese FA Cup last month was the beginning of their current 4-game winless run.

“We tried to do our best in the three competitions,” Pereira said. “We know our squad is not able to compete in three competitions, it’s almost impossible to do it but we tried our best and I’m happy with my team and my players. They tried to win the game.

“In the cup it was the same and in the league we are fighting. It’s not easy, but we are fighting for the best position in the league.”

 

Penalty call infuriates Vitória

Unlike Pereira, ex-Benfica coach Rui Vitória travelled with his Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr to Doha for a meeting with Xavi’s Al Sadd with a first-leg lead to protect. Vitória also won the domestic title with his side last season, and Al Nassr headed to Qatar having won the first meeting 2-1 in Riyad last month.

Vitória’s visitors missed a golden chance to score the opening goal when Brazilian midfielder Guliano failed to convert when well-positioned, before the home side’s pressure paid off on 26 minutes as Akram Afif headed Al Sadd into the lead. Abderrazak Hamdallah’s deflected free-kick levelled the score for Al Nassr but Hassan Al Heidos’ goal just before the hour put Xavi’s men 2-1 up and left the game looking destined for extra time heading into the last ten minutes.

However, controversy arose when Al Sadd’s Afif went down under a challenge from Abdullah Madu and Sri Lankan referee Dilan Perera pointed to the spot. The decision enraged Vitória and members of his staff, with one of the Portuguese technical team issued a red card for the aggressive nature of his protests. Baghdad Bounedjah stroked home the resulting penalty to send the hosts through 4-3 on aggregate.

Vitória was furious at the final whistle and had to be ushered away from the officials by security, such was the intensity of his complaints. Speaking after the match, the 49-year-old insisted the penalty was the clear difference between the sides. “I’m sad because of this defeat and the exit from the competition,” he said.

“I’m not sad because of the performance of the players who had a good match tonight. It is because there were some minor details that caused the defeat. The match was even until Al Sadd scored the third goal from the penalty spot. This goal helped them secure the win and advance to the semi-finals.”

By Sean Gillen