CSL: Beijing Guoan keep up perfect start; Oscar helps Shanghai SIPG beat Wuhan Zall

And then there was one. Wednesday night’s Chinese Super League action saw the conclusion of the fourth round of games in this truncated, two-group season and Beijing Guoan are the only team left with a 100 per cent record.

Their 3-1 win over Hebei China Fortune gave the 2010 champions four wins from four and a two-point lead in group B.

Beijing Guoan coach Bruno Genesio picked a line-up that showed his faith in his squad, with Zhang Yuning and Wang Ziming trusted in attack.

The breakthrough was almost immediate, coming just five minutes in, although it came from an unlikely source. Full back Jin Taiyan’s cross may have taken a deflection off defender Feng Gang as it looped up and inside Bao Yaxiong’s far post.

Zhang scored the second in the 54th minute, finishing off a rapid counter after a period of sustained pressure from the Hebei side. The 23-year-old sent a defender to the floor before calmly slotting home.

Hebei pulled one back through veteran China striker Dong Xuesheng with 10 minutes to go but Genesio’s substitutes Cedric Bakambu and John Hou Saeter combined for a third goal deep in injury time.

Bakambu opted to pass for the Norwegian-born Chinese youngster to stroke into an empty net. Guoan have now scored nine times in four games with no one scoring more than once.

In the other game there was a scare for second placed Shanghai SIPG who faced Wuhan Zall.

Wuhan took the lead midway through a rare chance midway through the first half with Zheng Chenlin heading home from a corner.

Jose Gonzalez then instructed to sit back on their lead and despite giving up possession to the 2018 champions, the Shanghai side, who were missing Hulk, were frustrated until the final 10 minutes.

The equaliser came from another corner, which Oscar whipped into the box for Marko Arnautovic to head past Dong Hengyi.

Oscar then proved the match-winner with a penalty 10 minutes later. The Brazilian made no mistake after a handball was given against Wuhan’s Daniel Carrico.

“Wuhan's only chance today was to score that goal,” Arnautovic said after the game. “We dominated the whole game and we deserved the victory.”

The top two meet in round six later this month.