Shenzhen Jianlibao retained their leadership of the Chinese National Football League and, just as importantly, their forwards finally found their form in front of goal as they defeated Qingdao Beilaite 2-0 in the Shenzhen City Stadium. Li Yi and the Brazilian Tiago Jorge Honorio, who had scored only once each in the previous five matches, both got on the scoresheet.
The key to an improved attacking performance, as Shenzhen extended their unbeaten run to an impressive 18 games, was that, unlike in their previous four home games, they got their noses in front early. Tiago created the goal in the 28th minute, using his power to hold off the Qingdao defence before turning a shot on target, which Li buried emphatically from no more than a yard out.
'To score is always very exciting,' said the 24-year-old Chinese international. 'But the more important thing is to win. We've had a lot of chances recently and haven't taken them. This time Zhu Guanghu told us we had to learn to finish those opportunities and we did.' The effect was to open up more spaces for the Jianlibao strikers and wingers, which they exploited eventually, despite the loss of Djima Oyawole and Li to injuries.
'The defences have been so tight recently we haven't had time or space, but this time we were able to attack more quickly,' said Tiago. 'If we score one early, of course we need one more before we can relax, but it gives us more room.' Shenzhen got the room and the insurance goal in the 67th minute, sealing their eighth win in 10 games against Qingdao, when Tiago emphatically buried a header from Wen Guanghui's near post cross.
Qingdao will argue that the game turned on Yao Xia's disallowed goal just before the interval, when he was adjudged to have jumped the gun as he followed in Vladimir Petrovic's shot. The linesman was probably right, although that didn't stop a bizarre outburst from Korean coach Lee Jeong-ju who, having manhandled his protesting players away from the match officials, then stood on the pitch making spectacles gestures with his hands at both the referee and his assistant without incurring their wrath.
Perhaps just as important was the knee injury suffered by Qingdao's Brazilian sweeper Lula 10 minutes before the break, which robbed the visitors of their controller at the back. 'Of course, he is in a different class to the Chinese defenders, so that really helped us,' Tiago conceded.
