OBAFEMI MARTINS FIRES SHANGHAI SHENHUA TO CHINESE FA CUP TITLE

The veteran Nigeria striker completed the job at the Shanghai Stadium as his side held their own against the battering Red Eagles

Obafemi Martins led Shanghai Shenhua to a fourth Chinese FA Cup title after they won Shanghai SIPG on a 3-3 aggregate score.

Having handed his side a 1-0 advantage from the first leg of the final last week, the 33-year-old followed up with a stunning effort as the hosts’ comeback attempt prove futile despite eventually claiming a 3-2 victory.

Wenjun Lue opened the scoring for André Villas-Boas’ men before Yunding Cao levelled proceedings for the visitors - who were again without Carlos Tevez - on the stroke of half time.

Eight minutes past the hour mark, Martins gave the visitors the lead for the first time in the tie. The former Inter Milan marksman cut in from the right to curl in a beautiful effort.

Unfazed by the Nigeria international’s beauty, SIPG rallied back with two quickfire goals through Hulk and an own goal from captain Giovanni Moreno.

But those were not enough to land the Shanghai Stadium outfit their maiden FA Cup honour as Martins’ first leg strike turned out to be the major difference in the tie, thus, handing Shanghai Shenhua a title that had evaded them since 1998.

The former Newcastle United and Wolfsburg striker had a quite prolific season with the Shanghai outfit, scoring seven goals in 1159 minutes from 13 Chinese Super League matches.

Source : Tolu Olasoji of Goal.com