Shandong Luneng emerge from the shadows to lead Chinese Super League after beating Changchun Yatai
Papiss Cisse scores twice as Felix Magath’s side maintain 100 per cent record with 2-0 win on Sunday to top table alongside Guangzhou R&F
Shandong Luneng may have slipped under the radar in the build up to the new Chinese Super League season having only just avoided relegation last year, but Felix Magath’s charges no longer have that luxury as they sit proudly at the top of the table after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Changchun Yatai maintained a 100 per cent record.
Papiss Cisse scored twice in the second half at Development Area Stadium in Changchun as Shandong, who were the last team other than six-time defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande to win the domestic title in 2010, added to earlier wins over Tianjin Teda and Luiz Felipi Scolari’s side.
Shandong share top spot with Guangzhou R&F, who beat Yanbian Funde 1-0 on Saturday, with Shanghai SIPG and Evergrande just three points off the early pace.
“We were in a difficult situation in the first half, but we didn’t lag behind after 45 minutes and that made us feel very lucky. We found our tempo in the second half, however, we had still been struggling before taking the lead,” said Magath, who was appointed in June 2016 and was in charge as Shandong avoided relegation by two points last season.
Watch: Changchun Yatai 0 Shandong Luneng 2 highlights
“I want to single out Dai Lin and Gil to praise. Gil had been with the national team and just got back, but he is very professional. Also I want to praise [Graziano] Pelle as well. He is not only a striker, but also ran endlessly for the whole team. It was because of his efforts that Cisse got the chance to score.”