CAHN beat Shanghai Port 3-2 for first AFC Champions League Elite victory

Three leads and a dramatic escape in Shanghai

Cong An Ha Noi claimed their first AFC Champions League Elite victory on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, beating Shanghai Port 3-2 after taking the lead three times and surviving a penalty that had to be taken again. Brayan Perea scored twice at SAIC Motor Pudong Arena, while Leo Artur scored one goal and helped create the other two.

The Vietnamese champions won with just 35% possession in front of about 18,000 spectators. Shanghai Port twice equalised, through Prince Ampem and Miguel Campos, before Perea delivered the deciding goal in the 69th minute. The visitors then held their advantage through a penalty scare and nine minutes of added time.

The Asian Football Confederation's match report confirmed that CAHN's first victory of the 2026/27 campaign took them to three points, one behind Shanghai Port. For coach Mano Polking's side, the result ended a difficult opening to the competition and brought their first points after two defeats.

Shanghai Port entered the match unbeaten in 13 games, with 10 wins during that run. CAHN, by contrast, had gone three matches without a victory, including two defeats. The visitors changed that pattern by recovering the ball in their own half and attacking quickly, rather than trying to control possession for long periods.

Early warnings before Perea broke through

CAHN travelled without Dinh Bac but still created an early opening. In the eighth minute, Doan Van Hau combined with Perea and moved into the penalty area, only for a home defender to block his close effort.

Shanghai Port soon showed why the visitors would need more than attacking ambition. Wu Lei put the ball into the net in the 14th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Nguyen Filip then stopped a dangerous attempt from Ampem in the 25th minute, keeping the match level.

Perea opened the scoring in the 35th minute after a move involving Alan Grafite, Stefan Mauk and Artur. Alan helped move the ball through the middle, Mauk delivered across the penalty area, and Artur supplied the final touch into Perea's path. The forward finished from close range.

The goal showed the value of CAHN's attacking combinations. Several players contributed before Perea applied the finish, allowing the visitors to turn a brief spell on the ball into a clear scoring opportunity.

Ampem and Campos twice brought Port level

Ampem equalised in the 44th minute, nine minutes after Perea's opener. The Ghanaian winger moved in from the left and shot from outside the penalty area. His effort struck Frans Putros, changed direction and went beyond Filip, sending the teams into the interval at 1-1.

Ampem's pace and dribbling caused problems throughout the contest. Putros and Mauk both received yellow cards while trying to contain him. Shanghai Port also threatened through the passing of Spanish midfielder Oscar Melendo, whose lofted delivery gave Ampem an earlier chance that Filip anticipated.

CAHN restored their lead shortly after the restart, but Shanghai Port answered again in the 60th minute. Campos struck a direct free kick from about 26 metres, curling the ball towards the upper left corner. Filip got a hand to the shot but could not keep it out.

The Portuguese defender's goal made it 2-2 and forced CAHN to rebuild their advantage for a third time. Shanghai Port had found two different routes back into the match: a winger cutting inside to shoot and a defender converting a free kick from distance.

Artur and Perea supplied the decisive combination

Artur scored CAHN's second goal in the 49th minute after a move that began deep in their own half. Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh cleared towards midfield, Alan used his strength to help keep the move alive, and Perea quickly sent Artur forward.

The Brazilian carried the ball into the penalty area and shot through Jiang Guangtai's legs towards the lower left corner, beating goalkeeper Yan Junling. The speed of the move explained how CAHN could threaten despite spending much of the match without possession: a clearance became an attack before Shanghai Port could settle into position.

Polking introduced Nguyen Quang Hai and Le Pham Thanh Long in the 66th minute to strengthen midfield. Three minutes later, CAHN scored the winner. Cao Pendant Quang Vinh started the move, Artur timed his run beyond Shanghai Port's defensive line on the left, and Perea met his low delivery from close range.

Shanghai Port's attempt to catch Artur offside failed. An offside trap depends on defenders moving together so that an attacker is beyond the defensive line when a teammate passes. Artur's timing allowed him to run into space and give Perea a straightforward finish.

Artur also threatened with a shot from distance that Yan pushed against the post. Statistics service Sofascore awarded him a rating of 9.9, reflecting a performance in which he scored, created openings and repeatedly connected CAHN's attacks. Perea supplied the finishing touch twice, turning that service into the goals that separated the teams.

One penalty, two attempts and no equaliser

Shanghai Port received a penalty after Adou Minh pulled Jiang down inside the area in the 74th minute. Substitute Leonardo took the first attempt, aiming towards the lower right corner, but Filip saved it.

A video assistant referee review found that Filip had moved off his goal line too early, and the referee ordered the penalty to be taken again. The goalkeeper must keep at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line when the ball is struck.

Mateus Vital replaced Leonardo as the taker. His attempt beat Filip but struck the left post, leaving CAHN ahead. The award was recorded in the 74th minute, while the two attempts were also timed at the 77th and 80th minutes as the sequence unfolded.

Shanghai Port had been given another chance to equalise from the same penalty decision. Neither attempt produced a goal, and the hosts were left chasing the match in open play. CAHN dropped deeper, protected the penalty area and survived nine minutes of added time.

How the match turned

CAHN led for the first time late in the opening half and scored their next two goals within the first 24 minutes of the second. Shanghai Port's repeated recoveries kept the result uncertain until the closing stages.

• 14th minute: Wu Lei's finish for Shanghai Port was ruled out for offside.
• 35th minute: Perea finished from close range to put CAHN ahead.
• 44th minute: Ampem's deflected shot made it 1-1.
• 49th minute: Artur restored CAHN's lead with a low shot.
• 60th minute: Campos equalised with a direct free kick.
• 66th minute: Polking brought on Quang Hai and Thanh Long.
• 69th minute: Artur crossed for Perea to score his second goal and make it 3-2.
• 74th minute onward: Shanghai Port won a penalty, Filip saved Leonardo's attempt, and Vital struck the post with the retake.
• After nine minutes of added time: CAHN completed their first Elite victory.

The decisive stretch came after Shanghai Port's second equaliser. CAHN found another goal within nine minutes, then survived the hosts' clearest opportunity to draw level again.

Why 35% possession was enough

CAHN's share of possession meant Shanghai Port had roughly 65% of the ball. Polking's players made their smaller share count by challenging for possession in their own half and moving forward quickly through Alan, Artur and Perea.

The second goal provided the clearest example. Adou Minh's clearance, Alan's physical contest and Perea's quick pass allowed Artur to attack before the home defence could organise. The winning goal used a different opening, with Quang Vinh helping release Artur behind the defensive line.

Shanghai Port had already conceded five goals across their first two Elite matches, beating Ratchaburi 6-4 and drawing 1-1 with Daejeon. CAHN's three goals took that total to eight conceded in three games. Their ability to score remained evident, but keeping opponents out had become a costly problem.

CAHN also had defensive weaknesses to manage. Ampem repeatedly troubled them, Campos scored from a free kick, and the foul on Jiang created a late penalty. The victory rested on effective attacking combinations, Filip's interventions and disciplined defending during the final minutes.

Three points gained, with Kyoto Sanga next

CAHN had opened their Elite campaign with a 4-1 defeat by Gamba Osaka and a 1-0 loss to Kashima Antlers. Across those two matches, they scored once and conceded five. In Shanghai, they scored three times in one match and collected their first three points.

The win moved CAHN to 11th among the 16 teams in the eastern standings. Shanghai Port remained one point ahead on four, while Vissel Kobe led with three wins from three matches. CAHN still had ground to recover in the race for the leading eight places.

The competition's league phase is divided into eastern and western regions. Each team plays eight matches, with the leading eight in each region advancing to the round of 16. CAHN's result gave them a starting point in that race after leaving their first two fixtures empty handed.

CAHN next host Japan's Kyoto Sanga at Hang Day Stadium on November 3. Mauk will miss that match after accumulating three yellow cards, creating a midfield selection decision for Polking. Shanghai Port's next fixture is away to Newcastle Jets.

Key Points

• CAHN beat Shanghai Port 3-2 away on October 27, 2026, for their first AFC Champions League Elite victory.
• Perea scored in the 35th and 69th minutes; Artur scored in the 49th and helped create both of Perea's goals.
• Ampem and Campos twice equalised for Shanghai Port.
• Filip saved Leonardo's penalty before Vital hit the post with the ordered retake.
• CAHN won with 35% possession and moved to three points, one behind Shanghai Port.
• CAHN host Kyoto Sanga on November 3, with Mauk suspended.