Qingdao Jonoon 1-3 Guangzhou Evergrande
Chinese Super League Round 13
Meneghal 77′; Conca 57′,90+3′, Kim 82′
Attendance: 16,325
Despite a good effort from Qingdao Jonoon, Guangzhou Evergrande once again put in a fantastic second half performance as they cruise to another win.
As the champions walked out onto the pitch, the chant of “5-1” (referring to the large number of Evergrande players on the national team & the recent loss to Thailand) could be heard around the ground. It didn’t stop throughout the first half.
While Qingdao did a good job from the start and came close a few times, they were unable to get a first half goal, something that would come back to haunt them. Indeed, it was Guangzhou with the best chance of the first half, Elkeson scoring a nice goal, but (debatably) judged to be offside.
Evergrande did what they’ve done all year in the second half, putting the match away, though for awhile it was close. Ten minutes into the half, Muriqui played a nice through ball to Conca, who showed his class to finish through a defender’s legs. Qingdao made it interesting with an equalizer off a Zheng Long free kick sent to the back post where Bruno Meneghel headed it in for the equalizer. Cue the “5-1” chants around the stadium and general excitement.
It wasn’t to last, though. Kim Yong Gwon would give Evergrande the lead in the 82nd minute, with a fine finish on a Conca cross. While Zheng Long just missed equalizing shortly after, it was the diminutive Argentinian who would get on the score sheet again just before the end of the match, stepping up to knock in a penalty kick after Muriqui was taken down in the box.
The win showed that despite Jonoon’s early season success, there is still considerable distance between them and the league’s top side. For Evergrande, a Shandong Luneng loss Saturday night means they now have a six point lead and are on their way to a third straight title.
by bcheng
I don’t get the 5-1 chant. GZ didn’t have many players on the pitch for that game.
Football chants in general are nonsensical, I think it goes more to the fact Evergrande have 9 national teamers, but the players who far and away put in the worst performances in the Thailand match (Zhao Peng, Feng Xiaoting, Zhao Xuri) were all from Evergrande.