Evergrande, SIPG slump as CSL kicks off in style
Print Edition
GUANGZHOU Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG, the top-two ranked clubs in last year’s Chinese Super League, both lost their opening matches of the new season over the weekend.
Among the 16 goals in seven first-round matches, 15 were scored by foreign players, including an own goal by Hebei China Fortune’s Turkish defender Ersan Gulum. The 16 CSL clubs spent some 334 million euros (US$372.7 million) in the winter transfer window.
SIPG lost 0-1 to Henan Jianye on Saturday, three days after clinched its first AFC Champions League victory. Henan’s new signing, Swede Osman Sow, scored the only goal in the 30th minute.
“Henan showed a great desire to win, which our team didn’t,” SIPG striker Yu Hai said. “Hence they deserve the win.”
In a Sunday match, defending champion Evergrande lost 1-2 to Chongqing Lifan. Chongqing’s Brazilian striker Fernandinho scored the opener in the 32nd, with Evergrande’s new signing Jackson Martinez equalizing with a header in the 52nd. Fernandinho gave full play to his skills in the 74th, breaking through from the midfield and completed the attack with his second goal of the match.
It’s the first time in five years that Evergrande has lost a league opener.
Another Shanghai team Greenland Shenhua drew 1-1 at home to newly promoted Yanbian Funde. Shenhua put five of its new buys in the starting lineup, including Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin, South Korean defender Kim Kee-hee and goalie Li Shuai. Nigerian international Obafemi Martins also made his league debut when he was sent on by Spanish manager Gregorio Manzano in the 75th to replace Giovanni Moreno.
He Daijun scored the opener for Funde at the start of the second half. Shenhua’s equalizer came with five minutes left when it was given a penalty due to handball. Demba Ba scored from the spot.
“The winter preseason training was a bit long and exhausting. We failed to make an impression in the first league match,” said Guarin. “Our ball possession was better than the opponents’, which means we were the stronger team. Hope the team will do better in the next match.”
The two Shanghai teams will meet in the first city derby of the season on March 11 at Shanghai Stadium.
In other matches, big-spending Jiangsu Suning beat last year’s third-placed Shandong Luneng 3-0 at home thanks to a goal from new signing Brazilian midfielder Ramires and his countryman Alex Teixeira who contributed a brace.
CSL newcomer Hebei China Fortune beat Guangzhou R&F 2-1. Hangzhou Greentown beat Changchun Yatai 2-1 at home, with former Shenhua player Tim Cahill scoring from the penalty spot.
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