Shanghai SIPG were knocked out of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Monday after losing 0-2 to Japanese club Vissel Kobe in a round of 16 match in Doha, Qatar on Monday that also saw Brazil's Hulk bid farewell to Shanghai.

Vissel Kobe's Spain and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta netted the opening goal in the 30th minute.

Shanghai SIPG had a fine chance to draw level five minutes later from a free-kick but their Brazilian forward Oscar's shot from just outside the box went marginally wide to the left.

Vissel Kobe doubled their advantage five minutes after the break, with Daigo Nishi lunging forward to make contact with a Kyogo Furuhashi cross from the left and leaving SIPG stunned.

"We are very happy that we played very well and the players stuck to the instructions. This victory is not just for us, but for all the fans back in Japan who sent us their messages of support," said Vissel Kobe coach Atsuhiro Miura.

The only thing he was worried about was the possibility of Iniesta missing the next match after he had to substitute him in the 65th minute with a thigh injury.

"We have a problem with Andres Iniesta's injury. We have to wait and see how serious the injury is," said Miura.

Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Pereira blamed the busy schedule for his team's lackluster showing.

"Today my players were trying their best but it was all too slow because it is impossible to do it with this physical condition," he said.

"They did not have the energy to continue playing at the same level. This is not our normal game because we couldn't play in our preferred style.

"It is impossible to play seven games in 21 days and keep going at the same level."

After the game, SIPG's Brazilian forward Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, also known as Hulk, bid farewell to the team on his Weibo account. 

"Today is as important a day as the one I presented myself, the day I say goodbye to Shanghai SIPG, a team where I was welcomed with great affection," the player, whose contract with SIPG expires at the end of the month, wrote in Portuguese.

"I am very grateful to the fans who welcomed me very well over these more than four years. To the board and players, my thanks for sharing so many years of work and dedication. Together we had countless achievements such as the Super League and the Super Cup, but we also had moments of overcoming where we trusted each other, with a lot of unity and the will to win. As I have always done in my career, I leave friends. My heartfelt thanks to the Shanghai SIPG family!"

(With input from agencies)