Super League GW3 full recap
Posted on 03-04-2017 by FCInsider – written by Hans Dekker
The third round of the 2017 Super League is in the books with plenty of excitement to be witnessed. Champions Guangzhou Evergrande took on Shanghai SIPG who by many were deemed favorites after their flying start.
Magath seems to have found the answer for Shandong Luneng and now finds himself back at the top of the table, together with Guangzhou R&F who are starting to show resemblance with the legendary run by Leicester City early on in the season.
Jiangsu Suning are off to a very dissapointing start of their campaign and have not managed a win yet, while Fabio Cannavaro got his first three points in the Super League.
YANBIAN FUNDE 0-1 GUANGZHOU R&F
74′ Eran Zahavi (Tang Miao) 0-1
Attendance: 27.523
Yanbian: Chi Wenyi, N. Petkovic, Jiang Weipeng (Cui Ren ’80), Jiang Hongquan, Piao Shihao, Han Qingsong, Chi Zhongguo, Tian Yinong, Yin Changji (Jin Bo 27′), Seung-Dae Kim, B. Trawally
Guangzhou R&F: Cheng Yuelei, Jiang Jihong, Tang Miao, Yi Teng, Huang Zhengyu, E. Zahavi, Junior Urso, Chen Zhizhao (Li Tixiang 63′), Zhang Chenlong (Jiang Zhipeng 46′), Xiao Zhi, Renatinho (Ye Chugui 91′)
Guangzhou R&F looking ready for big Guangzhou derby
Guangzhou R&F are enjoying a perfect start to the season after 3 weeks in and with the Guangzhou derby coming up a away victory over Yanbian will have given them the confidence they need to face their city rivals. While last season winning at the Yanji stadium in Yanbian proved too big of a task for many Super League sides, this season the local Funde are only a shadow of that team.
Guangzhou R&F did not have to dig too deep for a win in Yanbian, and while their play still left room plenty of room for improvement they got away with the important result. Something that was often the opposite way around last year. A diverted header by superstar Eran Zahavi was enough for the team of coach Stojkovic to take all three points home to Guangzhou, where next week the derby against city rivals Evergrande will be played.
HEBEI CF 1-0 GUIZHOU ZHICHENG
25′ Hernanes (P) 1-0
Attendance: 17.523
Hebei CF: Yang Cheng, Zhao Mingjian, Ren Hang, Gao Zhunyi, S. M’bia, Hernanes, Zhang Chengdong, Ding Haifeng, Yin Hongbo (Li Hang 84′), Aloisio, Jiang Ning ( Dong Xuesheng 43′)
Guizhou Zhicheng Su Boyang, R. McGowan, Han Pengfei, Jiang Liang, T. Chery, Baise Festus, Pang Zhiquan (Iminjan Ilhamjan 74′), Chang Feiya, Min Junlin (Zhang Mengqi 85′), Wang Fan, N. Jelavic
First three points for Pellegrini
After their somewhat shaky start to the season with two draws in their first two matches, Hebei CF finally got their first 3 points after beating newly promoted Guizhou Zhicheng at home. Newcomer Hernanes converted a spot kick after a handball by Ryan McGowan who tried blocking a free kick.
The side from Manuel Pellegrini did seem one of the main contenders for the ACL tickets this season but have certainly failed to impress so far. Apparently fitting in the many newcomers the Hebei boss has welcomed before the season start will take a bit more time.
Guizhou Zhicheng will find a positive in the way they are measuring up to the established Super League sides thus far but will be hoping for better results to come. Despite finishing the match with 10 man after a second yellow for Baise Festus the Guizhou side never looked out of their depth against Hebei CF.
TIANJIN QUANJIAN 1-0 HENAN JIANYE
21′ Liu Yiming (A. Pato) 1-0
Attendance: 23.900
Tianjin Quanjian: Zhang Lu, Yang Shanping, Liu Yiming, Mi Haolun, Zhang Cheng, Zho Xuri, A. Witsel, Wang Yongpo (Zhang Xiuwei 77′), Wang Xialong (Zheng Dalun 63′), Junior Moraes, Alexandre Pato (Sun Ke 91′)
Henan Jianye: Wu Yan, Gu Cao, Feng Zhouyi (Long Cheng 46′), Ahmad Al Salih, Ke Zhao, E. Gomes, Feng Gang, Zhong Jinbao, Ablet Abduwal (Yang Kuo 46′), J. Patino, Hu Jinghang
Tianjian Quanjian keep all three points in first Super League home game
Fabio Cannavaro will be happy with the way his team performed in their first home game in the season. The second Tianjin team not only kept al three points at home, but they dominated possession troughout the match. Cannavaro opted for a different team compared to last away game against Shanghai Shenhua, with newly signed Brazilian Junior Moraes up front instead of Guevanio in a more attacking 4-3-3- formation than last weeks 4-2-3-1.
Henan Jianye were never considered amongst the contenders for a top finish but will certainly have hoped to be able to beat the newcomers to the league. Still without a win after 3 games the Henan side will have their work cut out for them with away fixtures against Beijing Guoan and champions Guangzhou Evergrande, and a home game against runner up Jiangsu Suning planned for them in the next 4 games.
GUNGZHOU EVERGRANDE 3-2 SHANGHAI SIPG
12′ Yu Hanchao (R. Goulart) 1-0
24′ Alan (Yu Hangchao) 2-0
53′ Elkeson (Hulk) 2-1
70′ Hulk (Oscar) 2-2
80′ R. Goulart (P) 3-2
Attendance: 48.851
Guangzhou Evergrande: Zeng Cheng, Feng Xiaoting, Li Xuepeng, Zhang Linpeng, Mei Fang, Yu Hanchao, Zheng Long (Liao Lisheng 77′), Paulinho, Xu Xin (Huang Bowen 56′), Alan (Gao Lin 74′), R. Goulart
Shanghai SIPG: Yan Junling, Shi Ke, Wang Shenchao, Fu Huan (Zhang wei 62′), He Guan, Zhang Huachen (Yu Hai 15′), Oscar, Wu Lei, Cai Huikang (Zhang Yi 46′), Hulk, Elkeson
Highly anticipated match delivers on promise
Probably the most anticipated match-up from this weekend certainly did not dissapoint with a spectacular performance by both teams in the Tianhe stadium in Guangzhou. With an attendance of close to 50.000 it was clear many had been looking forward to this clash this early in the season and with no shortage in spectacle on the pitch the fans were sent home happy.
The home side would normally be the clear cut favorites despite the star-studded squad of the Shanghai International Port Group. Especially taking in to account the 39-game unbeaten streak in home games Evergrande brought to this match the odds certainly seemed in their favor. But after their surprising loss to Magath’s Shandong Luneng before the international break and looking at the flying start Shanghai SIPG has had to their campaign things started to look a bit more uncertain for Guangzhou Evergrande.
Without their suspended captain Zheng Zhi and headcoach Felipe Scolari the reigning champions quickly took a 2-0 lead in the first half and seemed to be able to close out the match early. The second half was a completely different story with the Brazilians of Shanghai leading the way. After former Guangzhou fan favorite Elkeson brought the difference back to 1 goal, fellow Brazilian Hulk managed to level the score. Also deleviring the perfect cross for Elkeson to find the net before him the former St. Petersburg man looked to be taking home the matchball after the game.
Unfortunately for him Guangzhou Evergrande got the golden opportunity to score their third after a discutable decision by the referee, and former Shanghai SIPG man Goulart easily found the net from the spotkick.
With this early setback to his campaign Shanghai boss Villas-Boas could not help himself but to leash out to starplayer Hulk, stating that if only he’d be more focussed his team could have managed to come away with a better result.
CHANGCHUN YATAI 0-2 SHANDONG LUNENG
59′ Papiss Cisse (Dai Lin) 0-1
81′ Papiss Cisse 0-2
Attendance: 23.617
Changchun Yatai: Yi Fan, Fan Xiaodong, Yu Rui, Li Guang, Yan Shipeng (Tan Long 72′), S. Huszti, Zhang Xiaofei, Jiang Zhe, He Chao (Guo Liang 58′), O. Ighalo, Marinho
Shandong Luneng Wang Dalei, Dai Lin, Gil, Song Long, Wang Tong (Li Wei 93′), Qi Tianyu, Hao Junmin, Wu Xinghan (Li Songyi 87′), G. Pelle, P. Cisse, Cui Wei (Liu Binbin 46′)
Last seasons relegation candidate at top of the table
Possibly the biggest surprise of the 2017 Super League season so far has been the progress Felix Magath has made with Shandong Luneng. Struggling to stay up last season not many would have predicted them to have a start this strong, but with 3 out of 3 Shandong Luneng find themselves in (shared) first place.
After being able to work with his team the entire pre-season Felix Magath seems to have found the solution for Shandong’s problems. This is especially impressive looking at the juvenile squad the German coach, who was recently named a top candidate for the Al-Ahly position, is working with this season. Magath has made it clear his focus this year will mainly be on developing younger players and so far this looks to be paying off.
For Changchun Yatai the opposite can be said. Despite the signing of two very talented strikers in Ighalo from Watford and the Brazilian Marinho Changchun can not seem to stop losing, and together with Yanbian will be the favorites to go down by the end of the season.
LIAONING WHOWIN 3-1 JIANGSU SUNING
30′ J. Chamanga (P) 1-0
38′ Wang Song 1-1
69′ A. Ujah (J. Chamanga) 2-1
87′ Yang Yu (A. Ujah) 3-1
Attendance: 10.076
Liaoning Whowin: Shi Xiaotian, A. Lukimya, Lang Zheng, Liu Shangkun, Wang Liang, Ni Yusong (Yang Yu 58′), Lu Wei (Wang Hao 90′), Wang Qiao (Sang Yifei 28′), J. Chamanga, Yang Xu, A. Ujah
Jiangsu Suning: Zhang Sipeng, Zhou Yun, Jeong-Ho Hong, Li Ang, Ramires, Wang Song (Gao Di 76′), Liu Jianye, Ji Xiang, Yang Xiaotian (Cao Haiqing), Tao Yuan, Gao Tianyi (Xie Pengfei 55′)
Jiangsu Suning are missing
Jiangsu Suning seem to be running into trouble early in their season, after not winning any of their first 3 games. Despite their perfect score so far in the Champions League the side of South-Korean headcoach Yong-Soo Choi can’t find their momentum in the Super League. Without the suspended Alex Teixeira and injured Roger Martinez, Jiangsu are a shadow of the team they were last season and it leaves to wonder if the departure of Trent Sainsbury to Italian powerhouse Internazionale might have more to do with it.
Without their two main goalscorers Jiangsu never looked like they would get away with a result against Liaoning Whowin who proved once again that they are a force to be reckoned with. With captain James Chamanga adding to his legendary status by leading the way in his 10th season in China the home side got their first win of the season, and are still unbeaten.
It remains to be seen if the Suning-owned side has what it takes to turn this season around to ensure Champions League football is also being played in Jiangsu next season.
TIANJIN YILI 2-0 CHONGQING LIFAN
48′ J. Obi Mikel 1-0
82′ G. Milovic (OG) 2-0
Attendance: 12.594
Tianjin Yili: Du Jia, Mirahmetjan Muzepper, Qiu Tianyi, Bai Yuefeng, Zhou Qiming (Hu Rentain 26′), Pan Ximing, J. Obi Mikel, Guo Hao, Hui Jiakang (Lei Yongchi 75′), B. Ideye (Wang Dong 65′), M. Diagne
Chongqing Lifan: Deng Xiaofei, Liu Yu, Chen Lei, G. Milovic, Liu Huan, Peng Xinli (Sui Donglu 81′), Ding Jie, Wu Qing (Xu Yang 61′), Nan Song (Wang Weicheng 61′), Alan Kardec, Fernandinho
Tianjin Yili end winless streak
Jaime Pachecho’s decision to start the home game in Tianjin with a more attacking line-up payed off by giving Tianjin Yili their first win in a very long time. After a disastrous pre-season where the team went on a 8-game losing streak the Yili owned side managed their first win in the Super League, after 1 loss and 1 draw in the first two games.
With new signing Nemanja Gudelj not selected Pachecho opted for a two man front line with Brown Ideye and Mbaye Diagne, only to bring in defensive midfielder Wang Dong for Ideye after 65 minutes in order to switch back to their usual formation.
Chonqing Lifan are still without a win after their first 3 games and will be expecting more from their Brazilian duo with Kardec and Fernandinho in terms of goalscoring. With a difficult away fixture to Jiangsu Suning on friday coach Woe-Ryong Chang can hardly afford to wait around for them to make things happen.
BEIJING GUOAN 2-1 SHANGHAI SHENHUA
37′ B. Yilmaz (Zhang Chiming) 1-0
40′ Cao Yunding 1-1
87′ B. Yilmaz (Yu Daobao) 2-1
Attendance: 53.056
Beijing Guoan: Yang Zhi, Yu Yang, Jiang Tao, Jin Pengxiang, Renato Augusto, Ralf, Zhang Xizhe, Li Lei, Tang Shi, B. Yilmaz, Zhang Chiming
Shanghai Shenhua: Li Shuai, Tao Jin, Wang Lin, Li Peng, Bai Jiajun, G. Moreno, Wang Shouting, F. Guarin, Cao Yunding, Xu Junmin, C. Tevez
Tevez invisible, Yilmaz clinical
In a highly anticipated China derby that was broadcasted on PPTV, Burak Yilmaz’ clinical finishing provided Beijing Guoan with all three points. With the win Beijing Guoan extended their unbeaten streak at home against Shanghai Shenhua to 9 games, with the last win of Shenhua in Beijing dating back to 2008.
In a match where most of the focus before kick-off went to superstar Carlos Tevez, Shanghai Shenhua put on a dissapointing display and if it wasn’t for a gift of a goal by Beijing goalie Yang Zhi they would not have found themselves back on the scoreboard. That being said the home team never got much going for them either, but will be thanking Burak Yilmaz for putting away his chances.
Beijing were in control for most of the game without creating many clear cut chances, but two moments from Yilmaz in front of goal did provide them with the win. Shanghai Shenhua will have to go back to the drawing board as their performance was far from impressive, with Carlos Tevez nowhere to be found.
Next round
07-04-2017 (Fri)
Beijing Guoan vs Henan Jianye
Jiangsu Suning vs Chongqing Lifan
Shanghai SIPG vs Shandong Luneng
08-04-2017 (Sat)
Guizhou Zhicheng vs Tianjin Yili
Guangzhou Evergrande vs Guangzhou R&F
Hebei CF vs Shanghai Shenhua
09-04-2017 (Sun)
Changchun Yatai vs Liaoning Whowin
Tianjin Quanjian vs Yanbian Funde
