Vargas, Oscar power Shanghai Port past Ulsan in AFC Champions League

Shanghai Port of Chinese Super League defeated Ulsan HD of South Korea's K League 1 3-1 in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite game at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, South Korea, on Tuesday.

Shanghai's Argentine striker Matias Vargas scored a hat trick and all three goals were assisted by his teammate, Brazilian midfielder Oscar.

The visitors netted early in the 11th minute when they launched counterstrike from the left wing. Oscar received the ball on the top of the box and passed to Vargas who dodged a defender and shot it into the bottom left corner of the goal for Shanghai to lead 1-0.

Twelve minutes later, Oscar intercepted Ulsan's pass in the box and then assisted unmarked Vargas to double their lead. It was the third straight AFC Champions League Elite game in which Vargas scored and Oscar delivered assist.

Shanghai took a blow in the 31st minute when their defender Li Ang was thrown out of the game with a red card for pulling down Lee Chung-yong from behind.

Ulsan converted their number advantage to a goal in the 73rd minute when Joo Min-Kyu headed a corner kick from the right into Shanghai's goal. His shot first hit the grass and then changed direction, bouncing into the net.

Bargas gave Shanghai a firm grasp of the victory with his third goal in the 83rd minute. He dribbled forward quickly after receiving Oscar's pass and blew the ball into Ulsan's goal with a powerful shot outside the box.

Shanghai rose to eighth, which is also the knockout stage qualification zone in the East Region after the win.

Shandong edge JDT 1-0 at home

On the same day, CSL's Shandong Taishan defeated Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) from Malaysia Super League 1-0 at home in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, making it back to the top eight in the East Region.

Desperate for a win, Shandong attacked with aggression in the first 20 minutes, but saw their efforts end fruitless either because of the opponents' defenders' excellent work or due to the poor finishing abilities of their own strikers.

Chen Pu's long shot in the 15th minute hit the arm of Oscar Arribas in the box, but the referee ruled it a no foul. Neither did the video assistant referee.

JDT began to launch rallies as the game went on and set up multiple opportunities to score. They didn't net however, as Shandong's goalie Wang Dalei made a series of remarkable saves for the game to remain 0-0.

Shandong finally scored in the 68th minute when Cryzan's through sent Zeca to the box. Despite deflection from two defenders, Zeca shot the ball into JDT's goal for his side to lead 1-0.

Wang saved Shandong once more in the 83rd minute by rejecting an attempt by Murilo Henrique next to the penalty spot. The victory lifted Shandong to seventh in the East Region.