Sydney FC blew an opportunity to take over at the top of Group E as they were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Shanghai Shenhua at Aussie Stadium.
Check out this for all the match action pics...
The door was open for the Australian side after group leaders Urawa Reds drew 3-3 with Persik Kediri in Solo City, but the hosts missed a penalty and countless other scoring opportunities to remain a point behind the Japanese side with one match to play.
Sydney must now beat undefeated Urawa in their group-deciding match in Saitama on May 23 to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
The Australians were frustrated by a Shanghai Shenhua side missing seven regular players and with little to play for in the competition but pride after managing only one point from their first four games.
The home side, oblivious to the result in Solo City, had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when they were awarded a dubious penalty in the 24th minute when Liu Zhiqing was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Replays suggested the ball struck him outside the area, but the visitors received some justice when Ufuk Talay blasted his spot-kick against the crossbar.
It was the best chance of a half dominated by Sydney in every department except the scoreboard.
Sydney midfielder Steve Corica saw his eighth-minute header tipped over the bar by Shanghai goalkeeper Zhang Chen.
A minute later Zhang was again in the action, palming David Carney's purposeful header to safety.
Milligan received the game's first yellow card in the 27th minute after bringing down Li Gang.
It did little to cool tempers, with Shanghai Shenhua's Fernado Correa and Sydney midfielder Robert Middleby booked soon after as the referee desperately tried to keep a lid on a match threatening to boil over before half-time.
Middleby's yellow card will see him miss the Urawa match through suspension.
Carney continued to look dangerous after the break, almost crafting a goal from an audacious lob from outside the box in the 49th minute.
Sydney striker David Zdrilic came close to breaking the deadlock six minutes later, but could only watch in agony as his header squeezed past the right post.
Zhang was in brilliant form in the Shanghai goal, thwarting Brosque's powerfully hit left-foot strike on 73 minutes.
Shortly after Sydney FC almost conceded a goal against the run of play when Correa's glanced header was toed off the line at the back post by Carney.
Milligan came close with a long-range volley in the 80th minute as the home side threw players forward in desperate search of a goal, while skipper Mark Rudan fired a drive just over the bar with two minutes remaining.
But the breakthrough never came and Sydney must now negotiate a tricky away tie if they are to go any further in their inaugural ACL campaign.
The door was open for the Australian side after group leaders Urawa Reds drew 3-3 with Persik Kediri in Solo City, but the hosts missed a penalty and countless other scoring opportunities to remain a point behind the Japanese side with one match to play.
Sydney must now beat undefeated Urawa in their group-deciding match in Saitama on May 23 to advance to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
The Australians were frustrated by a Shanghai Shenhua side missing seven regular players and with little to play for in the competition but pride after managing only one point from their first four games.
The home side, oblivious to the result in Solo City, had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring when they were awarded a dubious penalty in the 24th minute when Liu Zhiqing was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.
Replays suggested the ball struck him outside the area, but the visitors received some justice when Ufuk Talay blasted his spot-kick against the crossbar.
It was the best chance of a half dominated by Sydney in every department except the scoreboard.
Sydney midfielder Steve Corica saw his eighth-minute header tipped over the bar by Shanghai goalkeeper Zhang Chen.
A minute later Zhang was again in the action, palming David Carney's purposeful header to safety.
Milligan received the game's first yellow card in the 27th minute after bringing down Li Gang.
It did little to cool tempers, with Shanghai Shenhua's Fernado Correa and Sydney midfielder Robert Middleby booked soon after as the referee desperately tried to keep a lid on a match threatening to boil over before half-time.
Middleby's yellow card will see him miss the Urawa match through suspension.
Carney continued to look dangerous after the break, almost crafting a goal from an audacious lob from outside the box in the 49th minute.
Sydney striker David Zdrilic came close to breaking the deadlock six minutes later, but could only watch in agony as his header squeezed past the right post.
Zhang was in brilliant form in the Shanghai goal, thwarting Brosque's powerfully hit left-foot strike on 73 minutes.
Shortly after Sydney FC almost conceded a goal against the run of play when Correa's glanced header was toed off the line at the back post by Carney.
Milligan came close with a long-range volley in the 80th minute as the home side threw players forward in desperate search of a goal, while skipper Mark Rudan fired a drive just over the bar with two minutes remaining.
But the breakthrough never came and Sydney must now negotiate a tricky away tie if they are to go any further in their inaugural ACL campaign.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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