Nigeria international striker, 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 leveled 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.
Hosts SIPG also finished with 10 men after the sending off of Fu Huan in the final moments of the match.
Martins , who scored the only goal in the first leg, made up of the absence of Argentina’s Carlos Tevez, who did not play in either leg of the final as his career in China looks to be over.
It was Shenhua’s first FA Cup triumph since 1998 and earns them a place in next season’s Asian Champions League.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
