Oscar and Hulk help secure Shanghai SIPG’s first ever Chinese Super League title after 2-1 win against Beijing Renhe
- Shanghai SIPG break the seven-year dynasty of Guangzhou Evergrande in CSL
- Guangzhou now unable to catch their rivals after losing 2-0 to Chongqing Lifan
- Former Chelsea star Oscar has been a linchpin in Shanghai SIPG’s this season
Brazil internationals Oscar and Hulk sealed their first pieces of silverware since their surprise moves to the Chinese Super League as they guided Shanghai SIPG’s to the league title.
A 2-1 over Beijing Renhe was enough to secure the title as Guangzhou Evergrande, who had won the previous seven championships, suffered a shock defeat by Chongqing Lifan.
The win allowed them to move eight points clear with just two games remaining and sparked jubilant scenes at the Shanghai Stadium. Only an estimated 20,000 fans were in attendance in the 60,000-seat ground, however.
Shanghai SIPG players celebrate after sealing their first-ever Chinese Super League title
Ahmedov Ofil (second left) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring in their 2-1 win
Although their decision to move to the Far East were widely criticised, both Oscar and Hulk have been vastly influential in this historic season, which sees Shanghai SIPG win their first ever league title.
Oscar, who joined from Chelsea in a £52m deal almost two years ago, has scored 12 goals and provided 18 assists in just 28 CSL appearances. Hulk, who signed in June 2016 from Zenit St Petersburg for £45m, has 13 goals and 12 assists from 25 games.
Hulk earns around £350,000 per week while Oscar is on an incredible £400,000 per week. Both count themselves among the highest-paid players in the world and benefit from low tax rates for high-earners.
Brazil’s Hulk pictured on the day his arrival at Shanghai SIPG was confirmed in July 2016
Oscar has proved a linchpin in the Shanghai SIPG squad since arriving for £52m in 2016
OSCAR IN 2018-19
Apps: 28
Goals: 12
Assists: 18
Pass accuracy: 81.2%
HULK IN 2018-19
Apps: 25
Goals: 13
Assists: 12
Pass accuracy: 76.1%
Shanghai SIPG also count former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Ricardo Carvalho among their squad, but the 40-year-old has been unavailable for much of the campaign.
The side finished second under the stewardship of Andre Villas-Boas last season, but the former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham boss bizarrely quit to compete in the Dakar Rally. He had to pull out of the race on stage four after sustaining a back injury.
Vítor Pereira, another Portuguese manager, took the reigns and built on Villas-Boas’s good work to deliver their first Chinese Super League title and break Evergrande’s seven-year dynasty.
Vítor Pereira, who took over from Andre Villas-Boas in 2017, during their definitive victory
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