Tianjin ends Evergrande run

Guangzhou Evergrande's lead at the summit of the Chinese Super League was trimmed to one point after its 10-match win streak ended with a 4-3 loss to Fabio Cannavaro's Tianjin Quanjian on July 2.

Wang Yongpo scored one from the penalty spot and set up two more as Evergrande fell to its first league defeat since early March - a day after Shanghai SIPG beat Jiangsu Suning to move to within a point of the six-time champion as the schedule hit the halfway stage.

"Tianjin took its chances and won," said Guangzhou coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. "Players are not machines, so they will have ups and downs.

"Today our loss was due to our own problems, issues with set-pieces and others issues. It's normal. The league is a long campaign and nothing will be decided in just one match. We will get back on track."

China international Yu Hanchao gave Guangzhou the lead seven minutes before the break, but headers by Sun Ke and Kwon Kyung-won put Tianjin in front before Alexandre Pato claimed his first goal in the 68th minute.

Paulinho pulled one back for Guangzhou before Wang Yongpo's penalty restored the two-goal cushion.

SIPG had claimed a 1-0 win 24 hours earlier despite the loss through suspension of Oscar, Hulk and China international Wu Lei, as well as manager Andre Villas-Boas, after a series of sanctions handed down by the Chinese Football Association.

Ricardo Carvalho made his debut for the club after signing in March and a goal from Brazilian striker Elkeson was enough to give SIPG victory over Fabio Capello's side, which is now last in the standings.

Yanbian Fude vacated the cellar by defeating Guizhou Zhicheng 2-1, thanks to Tian Yinong's winner with eight minutes remaining.

Hebei China Fortune remains in third spot following its 0-0 draw with fourth-place Shandong Luneng.

An Eran Zahavi brace couldn't prevent Guangzhou R&F slumping to a 4-3 loss to Chongqing Lifan. Israeli attacker Zahavi tops the scoring chart with 12 goals.

Meanwhile, Beijing Guoan's struggles continued with a 2-1 loss to Changchun Yatai. Henan Jianye and Tianjin Teda shared a scoreless draw, while Shanghai Shenhua notched the biggest win of the season so far as Gus Poyet's team thrashed Liaoning Whowin 8-1.

Shenhua midfielder Fredy Guarin celebrated the signing of a new contract by scoring twice. The Colombian was joined on the scoresheet by Obafemi Martins and Giovani Moreno, who both scored twice, as Shenhua claimed back-to-back wins in the league for the first time since April.

"I want to give full marks to my team and the staff for such a big win," said Poyet.

"We want to dedicate this game to our fans. I can't find a single word good enough to express my appreciation.

"Before the game I had a good feeling, but I didn't expect such a big scoreline."

Reuters

(China Daily 07/04/2017 page24)