Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3096699/csl-guangzhou-evergrande-beaten-rf-slump-continues Football
CSL: Guangzhou Evergrande beaten, R&F slump continues
- Alex Teixeira brace sees Jiangsu Suning leapfrog champions and extend unbeaten run to 17 games from last year
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side lose again as Eran Zahavi misses spot kick, while Shandong Luneng shock Fabio Cannavaro outfit
Shandong Luneng’s Guo Tianyu celebrates with Jin Jingdao after scoring against Guangzhou Evergrande in their Chinese Super League game. Photo: Xinhua
It was a night to forget for Guangzhou football as the city’s two clubs tasted defeat in the Chinese Super League on Sunday.
Fabio Cannavaro’s champions failed to capitalise on the lion’s share of possession against Shandong Luneng, who scored their first goal since Marouane Fellaini’s opening day hat-trick to win 1-0.
Substitute Guo Tianyu scored the winner on the hour mark, capitalising on a bouncing ball in the area, although Evergrande goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo would have expected to do better than allow the ball to squirm under him.
The defeat is Evergrande’s first of the coronavirus-delayed season and sees them drop to second in the group A table after city rivals R&F handed all three points to Jiangsu Suning in the later game.
Brazilian forward Alex Teixeira opened the scoring after 22 minutes with a tap-in on the line following a Joao Miranda header from a corner.
The lead was extended in the 34th minute when Teixeira slammed home from an Eder cross.
Victory extended the Nanjing side’s unbeaten run to 17 games – four in the delayed 2020 season and 13 at the end of the 2019 season – and took them to the summit of the group.
R&F have one point after four games and have conceded 11 goals in the process. Israeli striker Eran Zahavai, who was CSL top scorer last season, has only scored once for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
He had an opportunity from the penalty spot but it was saved by Gu Chao.
VAR denied Teixeira a penalty in the 70th minute, despite an apparent trip.
Hong Kong’s Tan Chun-lok once again started for R&F and was at the heart of the few attacking moves in the first half, although the midfielder failed to get the ball under control in the box to fashion a chance.
Tan has now started all four games after impressing the incoming Dutch coach in preseason.
The league continues on Monday with Shanghai Shenhua taking on Dalian Pro and Shenzhen playing Henan Jianye.