South China's recent revival was derailed yesterday as they crashed to a 1-0 league loss against Xiangxue Pharmaceutical in Guangzhou. A 68th-minute goal by midfielder Lu Xiao-xuan ended the Caroliners' five-game winning streak which included a 1-0 League Cup victory over Sun Hei, and 3-0 thrashings of Chinese giants Dalian Shide and arch-rivals Happy Valley en route to lifting the ATV Cup last month. Playing without injured first-choice strikers Au Wai-lun and Rochi Putiray, South China failed to find the net for only the second time in eight league games this season. But team director Peter Leung Shou-chi remained optimistic. 'We still have six games to play in the league and are only three points behind (leaders) Rangers. So I think we still stand a pretty good chance of winning the championship this year,' he said. South China are fourth with 14 points, while the win moved Xiangxue up to sixth on seven points.
