There was no change at the top of the log this week as the top four teams all won to keep it really tight. Elsewhere, Harbin are still with out points as their struggles continue. Wild East Football takes you around the league for all of the weekend’s action.
Shanghai East Asia 1-1 Shanghai Shenhua
The Shanghai derby lived up to it’s billing as a tight, fiery affair. East Asia’s Australian Daniel McBreen opened the scoring with a stunning left foot volley (the commentator’s reaction is priceless) from outside the area. Shenhua levelled one of Xu Liang’s many free kicks into the area went untouched into the far side of the net.
The game erupted in oppage time when a disgusting challenge from Yang Shiyuan sparked the underlying tensions between the teams and saw him and opposite number, Bai Jiajun, shown red seconds before the final whistle.
Liaoning Whowin 0-4 Gangzhou Evergrande
Guangzhou’s home form has been impressive the past few months but their away form less so. This wasn’t the case on their trip to Liaoning as they ran out 4-0 winners to remain as the league’s top team.
Goals from Dong Xuesheng, Muriqui and Elkeson, plus a complimentary own goal from unfortunate Australian Billy Celeski, were enough to secure victory on the occasion, against an opponent who have not been renowned for their hospitality towards the Cantonese visitors in recent years.
Changchun Yatai 0-0 Guizhou Renhe
Not the greatest game this one. Both teams looked a little out of sorts, especially Guizhou who’s recent poor run of form continues. The visitor’s looked short of any kind of momentum and struggled to build any kind of meaningful attack.
In fact, Changchun could feel a little hard done by as they could have had a late penalty after Rao Weihui seemed to handle the ball in the area. It was not be and the game ended i in a stale mate that won’t have pleased either manager.
Guangzhou R&F 3-0 Dalian Aerbin
Two goals from in-form Davi and a Jiang Ning thunderbolt gave Guangzhou R&F victory over a disappointingly poor Dalian Aerbin side. The visitors were perhaps rattled by the controversial penalty awarded against them in the first half but R&F were untroubled and their keeper Cheng only had to make two saves during the 90 minutes.
Jiangsu Sainty 2-2 Hangzhou
In one of the games of the weekend, Hangzhou travelled to Nanjing to take on high flyers Sainty. It was end to end action with Sainty going one up early, only to see their lead wiped out by some terrible goalkeeping. 1-1 it was at the break.
Not long after half time, Brazilian Elias gave Jiangsu the lead after a nice cut back and left footed shot in the area. It didn’t last long though as Hangzhou equalised again, this time through Luo Jing, powering in a header from 12 yards out. It was a hard fought contest with Sainty showing some seldom seen team spirit and unity.
Tianjin Teda 0-0 Shanghai Shenxin
An important middle of the table clash this one with both sides probably content with taking a point home. Both sides had a chance to take him the spoils with Tianjin’s Baré blasting a penalty high over the cross bar and Shanghai’s Liu Junnan’s close range rocket nearly rebounding over the line.
Both teams had chances in the second half but the scoreboard’s symmetry was protected by some great goalkeeping as well as a couple of poor touches in the final third. The home side could argue they had the game’s better chances but failure to take said chances means missed an opportunity to climb into the top half of the log.
Harbin Yiteng 0-1 Beijing Guoan
If Guoan are going to mount a serious title challenge this season then these are the games they are going to have to win, and win they did. Manager Gregorio Manzano started Peter Utaka alone up front after starting Joffre Guerrón in the past few matches. The big Nigerian caused problems all day for the Harbin defense and looked solid on his return.
Chen Zhizhao grabbed the game’s only goal as Harbin remain pointless through eight games. Surely football lovers are cheering them on in every game hoping they finally pick up a point as no one likes to see this level of inferiority. Here’s to hoping they break their duck on Wednesday night in Henan.
Shandong Luneng 2-1 Henan Jianye
Shandong put their midweek Champions League disappointment behind them with a comfortable 2-1 victory at home to Henan in front of a underwhelming crowd. Vagner Love grabbed a brace for the men in bright orange, one from the spot and one coming after some really good hustle from fellow forward and Brazilian, Aloísio. The host remain in second, two points behind Evergrande.
Jianye managed to pull a goal back but not until the final seconds of the game. The loss leaves them in a four-way tie on six points with Dalia, Changchun and Lioaning, with only hapless Harbin bellow the quartet.
