Shandong Luneng retained its leading place in the Chinese Super
League (CSL) over second ranked Changchun Yatai on goal difference
after the two played out to a goalless draw in Sunday's 22nd
round.
Shandong threatened early with Li Jinyu's shot just going wide
two minutes into the game. Seven minutes before the break, the
Shandong striker went even closer as his header off Zhou Haibin's
corner hit the bar.
Changchun was a bit unlucky. In the second half, Yatai's
Honduran international Elvis Scott beat Shandong goalie Li Leilei
but his effort was ruled as offside. A little later, the flag was
up again after winger Du Zhenyu found the back of the net.
Li Jinyu had another effort saved by Yatai goalie Zong Lei late
in the game.
Both the teams have 39 points with Shandong holding the edge
with a higher goal tally.
The championship is wide open with Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai
- all tied on 38 points - with seven more rounds to go.
Elsewhere, Shenhua edged Dalian Shide 1-0 at home for its third
successive win, thanks to Chinese international Xie Hui's
last-minute goal. The match was moved to suburban Jinshan Stadium
as its Hongkou Stadium was getting ready for the 2007 Women's World
Cup.
Honduran forward Saul Martinez and Wang Ke replaced injured
Sergio Blanco and Hamilton Ricardo, who was suspended. Yu Tao was
also back after a four-month injury absence.
Both teams started cautiously but the visiting eight-time league
champion had far more opportunities than the home team.
Zoran Jankovic's long shot tested Shenhua goalie Qiu Shengjiong
just seven minutes after the start. Hu Zhaojun followed with a
threatening 35-meter strike. Minutes before the break, Qiu blocked
Wang Peng's shot, only to see Jankovic missing another chance as
the ball flew inches wide off the post.
After the break, Shenhua coach Osvaldo Gimenez replaced Wang Ke
and Martinez with Jiang Kun and Xie Hui and it had the desired
effect as Xie found net with a header off Jiang Kun's corner kick.
It was Xie's first goal of the season.
"The teams were evenly matched today. Dalian did well but failed
to threaten our defense," said Gimenez. "Our team was tired after
coming back from Xiamen. We are now closer to the top with seven
more rounds to go. What the team needs is a good rest.
"I myself thought it would be a 0-0 result," the Uruguayan
said.
"But luck was on our side."
When asked about the absence of national defender Du Wei,
Gimenez said, "He is an excellent player. But you can see that our
team is doing well without him. Du has to wait for his chance."
Also, Beijing Guo'an beat Zhejiang Lvcheng 1-0 on Sunday. Wuhan
Guanggu topped Shenzhen Shangqingyin with the same score, while
Henan Jianye picked up only its third win of the season by getting
past last-placed Xiamen Lanshi 2-0.
Tianjin Kangshifu hammered Qingdao Zhongneng 4-0 earlier on
Saturday, while Shanxi Baorong and Changsha Jinde grabbed a point
each with a 0-0 draw.
(Shanghai Daily September 11, 2007)