Big-money stars such as Alex Teixeira, Ramires, Gervinho and Jackson Martinez all scored on their Chinese Super League debuts as the league kicked off – but some commentators wondered how the national team was supposed to benefit as all 16 goals on opening weekend came from foreigners.
An article in the Guangzhou Daily said it was embarrassing that Chen Po-liang, of Taiwan, was the closest thing the league had to a ‘local’ player scoring.
“From the perspective of the development of Chinese football, it’s a despicably bad thing,” said the commentary.
Jiangsu Suning's Alex Teixeira celebrates scoring. Photo: AFP
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Teixeira, whose move from Shakhtar Donetsk to Jiangsu Suning for 50 million stunned world football, scored twice on his debut, including a cracker bent in from the corner of the box.
WATCH: Teixeira off the mark
Teammate Ramires joined him on the scoresheet as Jiangsu won 3-1. Martinez – who cost Guangzhou Evergrande 42 million – also scored, but the champions were stunned 2-1 at Chongqing Lifan.
