It was Aaron Mooy who would have been left the happier after he helped his Shanghai SIPG come from behind to beat Rhyan Grant’s Sydney FC in their AFC Champions League encounter on Thursday night (AEDT).
Both Socceroos players shined for their respective sides in their AFC Champions League group stage clash in Qatar.
It was Mooy’s Shanghai who claimed the three points on this occasion after they came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory against the reigning A-League champions.
The Sky Blues opened the scoring on eight minutes via a delightful left footed finish from Trent Buhagiar.
They had numerous chances to double their lead as the match wore on however, they were unable to find the back of the net and were ultimately punished just after the hour mark with Mooy at the centre of the action.
The Socceroos midfielder swung in a tempting cross into the box which was headed home by Li Shenglong.
The Chinese outfit soon took the lead for the first time when Shenglong grabbed his brace with a diving header in the 79th minute.
Late drama in stoppage time saw Australian U-23 goalkeeper Thomas Heward-Belle red carded after he handled outside his box which left the ever resourceful Grant forced to cover in goals for the remainder of the fixture.
The Socceroos defender turned shot stopper ensured that the opposition did not grab a third with 2-1 the full time score.
Perth Glory – Shanghai Shenhua 1-2
Perth Glory were also on the wrong end of a 2-1 score line in their fixture against Shanghai Shenhua on Wednesday night (AEDT).
Olyroos players Brandon Wilson and Nick D’Agostino starred in Glory’s starting line-up as they fell to a second straight defeat in the competition.
A Jonathan Aspropotamitis goal in the final 10 minutes clawed one back for Perth after they conceded two first half goals.