Kim Shin-wook (1st L) of Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the second round match against Shenzhen FC at the 2020 season Chinese Super League (CSL) in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Long Lei)
Shanghai Shenhua overcomes Shenzhen FC for the first win in CSL season, while Guangzhou Evergrande dominates city rivals Guangzhou R&F.
DALIAN, China, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Shenhua overcame Shenzhen FC 3-2 without their elite striker Stephan El Shaarawy for the first win, while Guangzhou Evergrande dominated their city rivals Guangzhou R&F 5-0 in the second round of Chinese Super League (CSL) here on Thursday.
The former AC Milan player was reportedly dropped from the squad by coach Choi Kang-hee as a disciplinary measure, after having missed Shanghai's practice sessions three times gratuitously this week.
33-year-old right back Zhao Mingjian played a wall pass with Peng Xinli from the left before firing a shot into net in the ninth minute to give Shanghai an explosive start.
Shenhua doubled their lead early in the second half, when Zhu Baojie had a sliding kick on Cao Yunding's cross in the 48th minute. Shenzhen's substitute John Mary Honi Uzuegbunam hit back four minutes later with a poacher goal.
The Blue closed out the victory from Kim Shin-wook's penalty in the 63rd minute, after Zhang Lu was tripped by Shenzhen defender Song Ju-hun. Uzuegbunam scored a penalty in the stoppage time for Shenzhen.
"They had a higher possession percentage but posed little threat to us. The match went the way that we excepted," said Choi.
Wei Shihao (C) of Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC celebrates with Paulinho after scoring during the second round match against Guangzhou R&F FC at the 2020 season Chinese Super League (CSL) in Dalian, July 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
In an eye-catching Guangzhou derby, Paulinho put Evergrande in front with a powerful left-footed shot in the eighth minute, also his 50th CSL goal for Evergrande.
Wei Shihao latched on to Mei Fang's cross to add a second on 40 minutes.
In the 53rd minute, Gao Zhunyi cut inside and netted a curling goal for Evergrande. Ten minutes later, Anderson Talisca converted the penalty after Tang Miao's handball in the box.
Ai Kesen flighted a superb free-kick into the left corner of the net at the death, turning the derby into a slaughter. ■
