XI'AN, China, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Beijing Guoan saw off Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 2-1 on Friday, moving five points clear at the top of the season's Chinese Super League (CSL).
In the seventh minute, Jonathan Viera's close range shot punched Shenhua defender's arm, referee Mark Clattenburg refused to give the home team a penalty kick after considering VAR system's opinion. Seven minutes later, Piao Cheng broke the deadlock for Beijing after catching Aidi Fulangxisi's poor clearance.
Greenland almost put the score to 1-1 in the 35th minute, but Beijing's goalkeeper Zou Dehai denied Gio Moreno's shot and Yu Dabao's sliding tackle stopped Qian Jie's powerful shot from finding the net. Before the half time whistle, the bellwether team added its second goal with Brazilian Renato Augusto's long shot.
Zou Dehai, the 26-year-old Chinese rising star, was forced by Wu Yizhen into a good save in the 76th minute. Wu helped Shanghai Greenland pull one back before the final whistle.
Shenhua currently sit 15th in the 16-team league.
When facing against powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, Brazilian striker Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso could have netted for SIPG in the third minute, but his header went wide.
The defending champion dominated the game in the first half, but it was Jose Paulo Bezerra Maciel Junior (Paulinho) who put the away team ahead with a half volley five minutes before half break.
Evergrande built a solid defense system in the second half. The seven-time CSL champion's old rival created several chances but missed them all.
Paulinho enlarged his team's advantages to two in the added minutes after collecting Li Xuepeng's long low pass, moving the Evergrande to the joint second place with Shanghai SIPG.
In the other games played on Friday, Chongqing SWM played to a 1-1 draw with Shandong Luneng.
