appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Jonathan White

Nico Yennaris made history on Sunday night when he became the first naturalised player to score in the Chinese Super League.
The Beijing Guoan midfielder scored his side’s second goal and what would prove to be the winner against Henan Jianye.
Li Ke, as he is known since taking a Chinese passport in order to sign from English Championship side Brentford, netted his first goal for his new club after he smashed in a cross from Renato Augusto to double his side’s lead as they looked for a fifth win in five league games this season.
Guoan held on despite being down to ten men following Zhang Yu’s second yellow in the 74th minute, which was immediately followed by Henan Jianye’s Franck Ohandza reducing the deficit.

The historical 1st goal of a naturalized player in the Chinese Super League: Nico Yennaris sent a left-wing cross into the bottom corner to double Beijing Guoan's lead in their home stadium against Henan Jianye. pic.twitter.com/w4oBomEDMg
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) 14 April 2019

Fellow naturalised player John Hou Saeter, aka Hou Yongyong, joined Yennaris on the pitch for the closing stages after coming on as an 89th minute substitute for his league debut.
The Londoner’s goal proved to be the winner and helped his side to open up a three-point gap over Guangzhou Evergrande who lost to Beijing Renhe earlier on Sunday.




That unexpected result was only decided minute when Makhete Diop set up Chen Jie for a 92nd-minute winner.
Evergrande had taken the lead in the 25th minute thanks to Yang Liyu’s header in spite of losing Paulinho after just 15 minutes of the game for dangerous play.
The Brazilian’s foot was high as he tried to take the ball down but it collided with a home defender and he was given a straight red card. Evergrande had looked comfortable before Diop equalised on the stroke of half-time before the late winner.


Manager Fabio Cannavaro was not happy with the decision to send his midfield talisman for an early bath.
“After Paulinho was sent off we had fewer players on the pitch and that had a big influence on the team,” Cannavaro said. “That is the reason we lost.
“I’m not satisfied and the players are not satisfied, but even though the result isn’t satisfactory the players performed well.”

Paulinho was sent off straightaway due to his high boot tackle. With 10 players remaining, Guangzhou Evergrande suffered the first loss of the season being defeated by Beijing Renhe 2:1. Evergrande issued an appeal to CFA for cancelling the red card immediately after the match. pic.twitter.com/jHNsRZmBXQ
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) 14 April 2019

The club immediately appealed the decision after the game pointing out four reasons why it was wrong, not the least of which was that it was unintentional.
Others have compared it to a Demba Ba challenge for Shanghai Shenhua against Guangzhou Evergrande last season, for which he only received a yellow card, or Nani’s red card for Manchester United against Bayern Munich in the 2013 Uefa Champions League knock-outs.

Ainda em Shandong Luneng 0x1 Dalian Yifang: o lateral Li Shuai foi expulso por este tapa no rosto de Wu Xinghan. É de se esperar uma punição por parte da CFA... pic.twitter.com/AruhKHZL7Z
— Leonardo Hartung (@HartungLeo) 14 April 2019

As much as late winners are becoming the signature of the CSL – R&F’s winner was in the 96th minute, after Shenhua’s Ighalo had equalised on 90 minutes, champions SIPG owe thanks to Elkeson scoring in the 94th minute – it’s another kind of drama that is threatening to define the season.
There were eight games this weekend and four of them featured a red card bringing the total for 2019 to 15 in five match weeks.
One of them, in the game between Dalian Yifang and Shandong Luneng, has stirred up feelings.
Dalian’s Li Shuai got a second booking for something between a shove and a slap on an opposition player. He has since apologised via his Weibo but there is a chance that the CFA make an example of him, as they have so many others before him.












View this post on Instagram



















Proud to be China’s first naturalized football player
A post shared by John Hou Sæter - Hou Yongyong (@johnsaeter) on Feb 25, 2019 at 4:30am PST



It will be interesting to see what happens in China in comparison to the MLS, who had their own controversial dismissal this weekend.
In a game against Sporting KC, New York Red Bulls winger Kaku fired the ball into the crowd from point blank range and was handed a red card.
The ball was dead after it had gone for a throw-in to Sporting Kansas and a frustrated Kaku – the hosts had just equalised – lashed it into the crowd, hitting a home fan sat just behind the advertising hoardings full in the face.

I apologize to the @SportingKC fans, my teammates, @MLS and to all @NewYorkRedBulls supporters. pic.twitter.com/QqV6wCsrVc
— kaku (@kakuromero17) 15 April 2019

His teammates checked on the fan after the game while the Paraguay international held his hands up in a gesture of apology as he left the pitch.
The Paraguay international also apologised in two separate tweets within hours while the Red Bulls released their own statement.
“The New York Red Bulls organisation does not condone the type of behaviour displayed near the end of Sunday night’s match in Kansas City. We hold everyone in our organisation to a high standard of conduct. The matter will continue to be discussed internally and we will have no further comment at this time.”
Given Kaku’s behaviour brings obvious comparisons with Oscar last season and Rafael Silva this season, all eyes will be on how the club and the MLS deals with the player in the coming days.


Hong Kong striker Orr linked with Shanghai Port, city teammate Yue signs for Beijing Guoan

Team bus of CSL leaders Beijing Guoan seized over debt issues, players forced to hire bikes

Fans in China voice anger as club play hours after striker Boupendza’s death

Footballer dead in China after fall from building, Gabon FA says

Chinese Super League

Chinese Super League: Nico Yennaris becomes first naturalised player to score as Beijing Guoan maintain unbeaten start

Nico Yennaris is unveiled as a Beijing Guoan player. Photo: Twitter/@Nico_Yennaris

Sport

Football

Debate rages over Paulinho sending off for Guangzhou Evergrande as refereeing decisions dominate another match week
MLS’ handling of Kaku sending off for New York Red Bulls will be interesting comparison for nascent football leagues


Debate rages over Paulinho sending off for Guangzhou Evergrande as refereeing decisions dominate another match week
