Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Harbin: Brazilian striker Elkeson and China international Gao Lin both scored twice on Wednesday as AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Guangzhou Evergrande maintained their lead at the top of the Chinese Super League with a 6-3 win at Harbin Yiteng.
The victory ensured Guangzhou’s seven point cushion at the summit remained intact after nearest rivals Beijing Guo’an recorded a 4-1 victory against Dalian Aerbin.
Guangzhou raced into a 3-0 lead after only 15 minutes against rock bottom Harbin thanks to early strikes from the league’s leading goalscorer Elkeson, Gao Lin and an own goal from Harbin’s Ricardo Steer.
Despite second half resistance from the hosts which saw Steer score twice and Dori give his side a glimmer of hope, further efforts from Gao, Rene Junior and Elkeson - his 15th league goal of the season - ensured all three points for Marcello Lippi’s men and a further psychological boost ahead of their eagerly anticipated AFC Champions League quarter-finals clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Guangzhou travel to Sydney for the first leg on August 20, before the return leg in China a week later.