Sports

Chinese Super League 2019 Weekly: Shanghai Bests Beijing, Tianjin Scrambles for Safety, CFA Hands Control to Clubs

Oct 21, 2019, 19:16pm2019/10/21 19:17:03 AJ Cortese

Matchweek 26:

Table:

Results:

Round Up:

Guangzhou Evergrande beat Shenzhen FC 3-2. Guangzhou opened the scoring on 15 minutes as Elkeson met Gao Lin’s cross, powering a header past Shenzhen keeper Guo Wei. Just minutes later, Elkeson fed Paulinho who struck a left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. Cameroonian striker John Mary hit back for Shenzhen in the 39th minute with an instinctive finish after the ball fell to him during the second phase of a corner. Elkeson made it 3 for the league leaders with a thunderous left-footed strike after Huang Bowen found him in behind with a raking pass from deep. John Mary pulled another back for relegation threatened Shenzhen in the final minute of stoppage, but Guangzhou would claim the victory as they close in on the title.

Shandong Luneng beat Guangzhou R&F 3-1. International teammates Moussa Dembele and Marouane Fellaini faced off in this match, with Fellaini’s Shandong claiming the victory. Graziano Pellè was thwarted three times within 20 minutes as Cheng Yuelei made stop after stop. However, he unfortunately conceded in the 21st minute after Liu Binbin’s strike hit off the near post and off Cheng Yuelei’s back for an own goal. Top scorer Eran Zahavi uncharacteristically missed a good chance in the 38th minute to equalize for his side, blasting over from about 10 years out. Shandong doubled their advantage just before halftime as Fellaini laid off Roger Guedes at the top of the box allowing the Brazilian to curl his effort into the top right corner. In the 65th, Pellè nodded down a corner to the back post for Fellaini to volley in. Zahavi scored a free-kick in the 90th minute, but it was nothing more than a consolation, as it ended 3-1 to Shandong.

Jiangsu Suning beat Hebei China Fortune 4-1. In the 18th minute Alex Teixeira chased a long ball into the channel before laying it off for Santini who curled an effort into the top left corner from the edge of the penalty area. The Croatian Santini joined Jiangsu this season from Anderlecht in Belgium. Soon after, on 21 minutes, Teixeira again played provider this time for Wu Xi to slot home. A brilliant near post header from Miranda following a corner in the 42nd minute put Jiangsu even further ahead before halftime. Dong Xuesheng pulled one back for Hebei in the 55th, heading in from close range. Teixeira again assisted Wu Xi as Jiangsu added a fourth. Hebei earned a penalty in the 87th but Fernandinho saw his effort saved by Gu Chao.

Tianjin Tianhai beat Wuhan Zall 3-1. Tianjin Tianhai began the weekend one point back of Shenzhen FC, and still in the relegation zone. Wuhan’s Léo Baptistão forced a good save from Fang Jingqi in the 6th minute. In the 17th minute, Tianjin scored the opener as Mi Haolun’s terrific cross found Alan unmarked in the area, who scored with ease. In the 26th minute, Renatinho curled a free-kick into the area from the right hand side, allowing Zhang Chenglin to steal in and get the slightest of touches to double Tianjin’s advantage. Jean Evrard Kouassi pulled one back for Wuhan, finishing a rebound in the 58th minute. However Tianjin Tianhai’s frontman, Yang Xu, would seal the points for his side following a poor defensive header from Kouassi. Tianjin are now two points ahead of Shenzhen FC, who are in the relegation zone, with four matches to play.

Tianjin Teda beat Beijing Renhe 1-0. Beijing Renhe seem increasingly certain to be relegated this season, as they slipped to a dismal 1-0 defeat to Tianjin Teda. Former Bayern Munich striker Sandro Wagner scored a free-kick in the 59th minute, for the only goal of the match. Beijing Renhe have lost five of their last six matches, and have scored only 20 goals this season, in what has become a very forgettable campaign for them as relegation surely awaits.

Henan Jianye beat Chongqing Lifan 1-0. In a dour match that featured sloppy passing from both sides, Henan’s Fernando Karanga scored the only goal of the match. In the 56th minute, Ivo picked out Karanga with a cross form the left side. The Brazilian did brilliantly well to glance his header down and in off the far post. Chongqing have been in poor form as of late, with only one win in their last six matches.

Shanghai Shenhua beat Dalian Yifang 2-1. In a match between two of China’s more storied football clubs, Shanghai Shenhua prevailed 2-1. However, it was Dalian who drew first blood in the first minute. Li Shuai made a powerful run down the left flank, before squaring for Yannick Carrasco. The Belgian winger executed a brilliant turn to get the ball onto his right foot before lashing a strong strike in at the near post. Shanghai would battle back, through the brilliant invention of the league’s leading assister Cao Yunding. The local lad from Shanghai showed brilliant footwork down the left hand side before standing up a cross to Gio Moreno at the back post who towered above his defender to level the score at 1-1 in the 25th minute. Another Cao Yunding cross in the 38th minute found former Watford striker Odion Ighalo who’s deflected strike found the bottom corner. It would end 2-1 to Shanghai, with Rafa Benitez’s men left bitterly disappointed.

Shanghai SIPG beat Beijing Guoan 2-0. This was a clash in capital between two clubs trying to up the pressure on Guangzhou Evergrande. Shanghai was the more threatening in the early stages, as Hulk went close from a free kick and also hit the post on 30 minutes. Li Shenglong eventually made the pressure count, heading in a Lü Wenjun cross to give the visitors the lead in the 49th minute. Zhang Yuning scored for Beijing in the 54th minute but it was disallowed for offside. However, it was perhaps wrongly disallowed as Zhang appeared to be just onside. In the 66th minute, Odil Ahmedov finished a lightning counter attack for Shanghai, after Chen Binbin latched onto a long throw from keeper Yan Junling. The match would end 2-0 to Shanghai, who are now best positioned to challenge Guangzhou Evergrande as they are three points back with four matches to play. The two are set to face off on November 27 in Guangzhou. Beijing Guoan’s title hopes will be dented as them find themselves four points back with four matches to play.

OFF THE PITCH:

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has restructured the ownership of the CSL. Previously the CSL was owned by a holding company, which the CFA has a controlling 36% stake in, while the 16 member clubs each hold 4%. However, the CFA has confirmed it will relinquish its shareholding, allowing clubs to form a league committee by the end of 2019 to oversee the CSL. This move comes as a surprise, as the CFA has long been deeply intwined in the operation of the CSL. This new model will aim to increase the commercial productivity of individual clubs within the league, allowing them to maximize their global market potential.

CFA security general Liu Yi told local reporters: “In the future, the CSL should operate as an independent and market-oriented corporation like the Premier League in England. The CFA would no longer be involved in the day-to-day operation of the league, instead functioning as a supervisory body. The CFA will no longer act as a shareholder of the professional league. The CFA remains entitled to the ownership and supervision rights of the CSL, but the likes of management and operations will be devolved to the professional league committee.“

CFA president Chen Xuyuan promised reforms after his election in August, and he spoke on the new ownership structure, saying, “The CSL and lower leagues have been rapidly developing in recent years, but our professional leagues are still facing a huge crisis. The healthy development of professional leagues is the cornerstone of Chinese football. Clubs need to be financially independent. We are far from that. I think in the future, the CSL and the CFA will be partners. As long as we make the rules clear, there won’t be much conflict between the two and our professional leagues will be able to develop themselves better.

CFA security general Liu Yi told local reporters: “In the future, the CSL should operate as an independent and market-oriented corporation like the Premier League in England. The CFA would no longer be involved in the day-to-day operation of the league, instead functioning as a supervisory body. The CFA will no longer act as a shareholder of the professional league. The CFA remains entitled to the ownership and supervision rights of the CSL, but the likes of management and operations will be devolved to the professional league committee.”

CFA president Chen Xuyuan promised reforms after his election in August, and he spoke on the new ownership structure, saying, “The CSL and lower leagues have been rapidly developing in recent years, but our professional leagues are still facing a huge crisis. The healthy development of professional leagues is the cornerstone of Chinese football. Clubs need to be financially independent. We are far from that. I think in the future, the CSL and the CFA will be partners. As long as we make the rules clear, there won’t be much conflict between the two and our professional leagues will be able to develop themselves better.

PANDAILY PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

This week’s Pandaily Player of the Week is Jiangsu Suning’s Alex Teixeira. The mercurial Brazilian was pulling the strings once again for Jiangsu Suning, delivering three assists in a commanding victory over Hebei China Fortune. Teixeira once was attracting interest from many of Europe’s elite with his performances for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine, and he is showing that talent in the CSL. He is the talisman for a Jiangsu team that routinely is one of the better sides in China, and will be looking to challenge for those top three Champions League places next season. His link up with Èder has been crucial to Jiangsu’s attack all season. He was brilliant again this past weekend, with an unselfish performance showing he is just as happy to provide for his teammates as he is finishing moves. There is an argument to be made for Alex Teixeira as the best player in the league, and he keeps showing that for Jiangsu week in and week out.