Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Reigning Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande got their title defence off to a winning start on Monday thanks to a last gasp goal from Yu Hanchao in a 2-1 win over Shijiazhuang Yongchang.
Fabio Cannavaro’s men, who last week went top of Group H in this season’s AFC Champions League following a 3-2 victory at Western Sydney Wanderers, went behind on 19 minutes when Mario Rondon scored for newly promoted Shijiazhuang to silence the home crowd at Tianhe Stadium.
Guangzhou duly restored parity in the dying embers of the first half, Brazilian import Ricardo Goulart, a hat-trick hero against Western Sydney, neatly converting Elkeson’s delightful pass.
The win was sealed deep into second-half injury time, Yu striking with 95 minutes on the clock to leave Guangzhou fifth after the first round of Chinese Super League games.
Guangzhou are next in domestic action on Saturday when they travel to face Chongqing Lifan, before hosting Kashima Antlers in the AFC Champions League on March 18.
Photo: AFP