Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG FC settled to a 0-0 draw with reigning K League Classic champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the first leg of their 2016 AFC Champions League quarterfinal match held at the Shanghai Stadium on Tuesday.

Shanghai SIPG played their home leg with only two imports, Brazilian striker Elkeson and South Korean defender Kim Ju-young, as their four other foreign players are unavailable for the match.

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Newly-acquired Chinese transfer record signing Hulk, Argentine midfielder Dario Conca, and Ivorian striker Jean Evrard Kouassi are all sidelined by different injuries while striker Asamoah Gyan is currently in his home country Ghana to represent his national team in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

It was initially reported that Hulk and Conca could be ready to join the Red Eagles during the match, but the two was not able to get a go-signal from team doctors just yet.

With that, head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, who said that the goalless tie "was a fair result", was left with only Elkeson and Kim as his imports and is overall happy about "his players' performance" during the match, as per Shanghai Daily.

"It's a fair result," Eriksson said. "Both teams had few chances. It would have been better if we had won, but first leg games are never easy."

"We met a very good team that was physically strong. The game is still wide open, and there is still a possibility for us to advance to the semifinals," he added.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports noted that Conca "could be out for the season" after suffering a knee injury during SIPG's domestic 4-1 win over Shijiazhuang Ever Bright last Friday.

Eriksson then said that he is hopeful Hulk will be able to suit up for the second leg on Sep. 13 at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium in South Korea.

"If everything goes as we plan, as the doctors plan, then Hulk will be ready for our next Chinese Super League game against Beijing," the 68-year-old Dutch mentor said. "That would mean he would be ready for the AFC Champions League game in Korea - fingers crossed."

TagsChina Football, AFC Champions League, 2016 AFC Champions League, Shanghai SIPG FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors