Naturalised Elkeson makes history with two goals on China debut as Marcello Lippi’s side lead 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying
- Brazil-born striker scores from the spot and adds another in stoppage time to secure 5-0 win over Maldives
- More players expected to join Elkeson and international teammate Nico Yennaris once eligible to play for China
Guangzhou Evergrande striker Elkeson (or Ai Kesen) made history in the Maldives on Tuesday night when he became the first player naturalised on residency to play for the Chinese men’s national football team.
Towards the end of the game in Male, China’s new No 11 set another landmark by scoring his first goal for his new nation. Ten minutes after that penalty the 30-year-old scored again, a close range finish in stoppage time to make it a debut to remember.
It was reported that the Chinese Super League’s top scorer’s parents were in the stadium to see his international debut.
The Brazil-born striker’s goals made it 5-0 to China in their opening World Cup qualifier and put Marcello Lippi’s side top of the group on goal difference and in the driving seat on the road to Qatar 2022.
China’s other goals were scored by Jiangsu Suning’s Wu Xi, Espanyol’s Wu Lei and Tianjin Tianhai’s Yang Xu.
