DOHA (Qatar): Shanghai Shenhua coach Choi Kang-hee heaped praise on his side’s 2-1 AFC Champions League group stage win against Perth Glory here on Wednesday.
The Chinese side scored twice before half-time before surviving a late Perth surge to secure their first win in their 2020 campaign, and their first in the competition since 2009.
But while it was Shenhua’s blistering start which secured them the points, two-time AFC Champions League winner Choi was also pleased with the way his charges saw out the game, played four days after their arrival here.
“We all know the first game of any tournament is the most difficult one,” said the former Korea Republic national team boss.
“We just arrived in Doha. Our physical condition and the recovery of the players is very difficult, but today our boys gave 100 per cent effort to the last minute and I thank them for it.
“Now that we’ve got the first victory, we need to get ready for the games against Ulsan and FC Tokyo.”
With Givonanni Moreno and Kim Shin-wook injured, and Stephan El Shaarawy, Fidel Martinez and Miller Bolańos unable to be squeezed into their squad, Shenhua’s pre-match selection woes were well documented, but it was Perth who fielded a line-up packed with new faces.
The Australian side handed starts to teenagers Bryce Bafford and Joshua Rawlins, as well as several other youngsters, with much of the attacking responsibility placed on the shoulders of imports Bruno Fornaroli and Diego Castro. (Source: AFC)
