CSL: Salomon Rondon rescues Dalian Pro again, while Henan Jianye come back for first win of season
- An own-goal from 10-man Shenzhen helps Henan Jianye to first three points as they also lose in-form John Mary to injury
- Shanghai Shenhua twice pegged back by Venezuelan with controversial penalty securing a point for Rafa Benitez’s side
A brace from former Newcastle United striker Salomon Rondon bailed out the Toon’s former manager Rafa Benitez as Dalian Pro came back to draw 2-2 against Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League on Monday.
South Korean striker Kim Shin-wook opened the scoring for the Shanghai side with a tap-in from a rebound after Stephan El Shaarawy hit the bar just seven minutes in and they held on to the lead for almost an hour.
Rondon struck on 66 minutes, racing on to a bouncing through-ball, holding off defenders Feng Xiaoting and Zhue Chenjie, then just doing enough with his finish to beat goalkeeper Zeng Cheng.
Shenhua took the lead again thanks to a fine free kick from Qian Jiegei, the Gabonese-Chinese midfielder also known as Alexander N’Doumbou, that beat an outstretched Zhang Chong in the Dalian goal.
Controversy came in the dying minutes when the officials ruled that Qian had brought down Rondon in the box, despite it looking like the Venezuelan hitman had made the most of any challenge.
Rondon scored from the spot for his fourth goal in four games and his brace kept up Dalian’s run of scoring in all four rounds, but they remain winless in the 2020 season. Shenhua were left to rue missed chances, but the point keeps them in the top half of group A.