Late Jiangsu Suning goal trims Guangzhou Evergrande’s Chinese Super League advantage
Conceding a late equaliser caps a disappointing week for Guangzhou manager Luiz Felipe Scolari
Wang Song scored three minutes from time to earn Fabio Capello’s team a share of the points, allowing second-placed Shanghai SIPG to stay in contention for a dramatic late run at the league title with five games remaining.
Ricardo Goulart put Evergrande in front before Yang Boyu levelled but Alan Carvalho’s 75th-minute goal looked set to seal a sixth straight league win for the six-time champions.
Wang, however, netted a late equaliser for Jiangsu, who continued their move away from the relegation zone since Capello’s arrival in July.
“Our matches against Jiangsu have always been very tight, and so was this one tonight,” said Scolari.
“Jiangsu have had their own issues to solve but undoubtedly they are still a very strong team. Today a 2-2 result is fair.”
After a goalless first half, Hulk and Wu Lei both scored twice and not even a goal from Carlos Tevez – who came on as a second-half substitute – could spare Shenhua’s humiliation.
“We still have the theoretical chance of winning the Chinese Super League title,” said SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas, whose team edged past Guangzhou in midweek to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League.
“Even if we can’t nail down the trophy, we have to make sure we get second place.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Hebei CFFC notched up their fourth win in a row to move into sole possession of third place in the standings with a 2-1 win over struggling Liaoning Whowin.
Brazilian striker Aloisio scored the winner two minutes before half-time for Hebei, who sit one point ahead of Tianjin Quanjian in the third and final qualifying place for next season’s Asian Champions League.
Tianjin Quanjian also claimed a 2-1 win as they saw off Chongqing Lifan while Shandong Luneng’s challenge for a top-three place took a hit as a result of a 1-1 draw with last-placed Yanbian Funde.
Eran Zahavi scored his 25th goal of the season to continue to lead the scoring charts as Guangzhou R&F defeated Beijing Guoan 2-1 while Changchun Yatai thrashed Tianjin Teda 5-1 and Guizhou Zhicheng won 2-1 over Henan Jianye.