AFC Champions League Elite
Lopes struck in the 30th minute to leave the tie evenly poised ahead of the return at International Stadium in Yokohama next week as the Japanese outfit look to progress to the quarter-final draw for the second season in a row.
The J1 League side shaded proceedings over the first 90 minutes although Kevin Muscat’s team would be facing a more difficult challenge next Tuesday had goalkeeper Yan Junling not denied Lopes twice more to stop the striker claiming a hat-trick.
The Brazilian, who has now netted seven times in this year’s competition to join Salem Al Dawsari and Jasir Asani at the top of the scorers’ chart, steered his 10th minute header towards goal only for Yan to gather in a rare highlight during a disjointed opening period.
The Japanese side chose to stroke the ball around at the back, keeping possession and building up slowly but Port’s discipline in defence and midfield prevented the Marinos from finding a route to goal.
That changed, however, on the half hour mark when Ken Matsubara played Asahi Uenaka into the tightest space behind Li Ang and his cutback into the six-yard box found its way to Lopes via Daiya Tono, allowing him to nod in from close range.
The home side only narrowly missed levelling the scores six minutes later when Gustavo’s hurried shot bounced to the left of Park Il-gyu’s goal with the keeper flat-footed.
Steve Holland’s side should have doubled their advantage in the 60th minute when the visitors gifted possession deep inside the Shanghai Port half. The ball was worked to Uenaka, who found Yan Matheus but his shot was blocked by Yan Junling.
It took until the 69th minute for the Chinese Super League champions to eke out a shot on target, Li Shuai missing the opportunity to pull his side level by the finest of margins.
Wang Zhen’ao swept his pass across field towards Li Shuai on the left as he charged into the Marinos half and the substitute drove into space before hitting a low shot that had Park beaten, only to come back off the woodwork.
Elber was millimetres away from adding a second for F Marinos with five minutes left as he made the slightest contact with Jun Amano’s fizzing cross from the right while Yan made a fine save moments later from Lopes, diving to his left to keep his side in the tie.
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