An Entertainment Extravaganza, Goals Galore In Guangzhou: A Round 1 Review Of The CSL

Chinese Super League Review

Here is the review of each game in the first round of fixtures in the Chinese Super League season. In an action packed first weekend, the Guangzhou/Canton Derby and both newcomers Dalian Yifang and Beijing Renhe first CSL games are all included. Now let’s get on to the games.

(And what better way to start may I add)

It’s Crazy In Canton!

Guangzhou Evergrande 4-5 Guangzhou R&F (Yep you read that right)

An incredible way to start the CSL season. It was a great represation, just as much as a bad one of the Chinese game.

Only one minute in to the first game of the league season and Eran Zahavi continued his goal scoring prowess with a absolute wonderstrike; stunning the 7 time reigning champions in the process.

It didn’t take long for him to double the lead as in the 10th minute, Zahavi’s low driven shot brushed through the keeper, who really should have done better with the attempt. 2-0 R&F.

But in true champion spirit it didn’t take long for Evergrande to get back into the game with Alan pegging R&F’s lead to just one goal in the 13th minute. 2-1 to R&F.

Absolute scenes were imminent as Alan scored a 2nd and 3rd goal, for Evergrande, in the 39th and 45th minutes respectivly. First game of the season and scores a first half hattrick, not bad eh!

Within 4 minutes of the second half restart Eran Zahavi joins the hat trick club with a lovely strike across the goal levelling to make it 3-3.

This incredible game changed hands again with R&F’s Junior Arso putting them in front just over the hour mark. 4-3 R&F. P.S. The keeper won’t be wanting to see that again.

Evergrande don’t give up do they? Just 4 minutes after Arso made it 4-3 to R&F, Ricardo Goulart slotted home what I thought seemed a harsh penalty. (But then again I am used to lower league football so that speaks for itself) 4-4.

And with the final twist in the tale R&F’s Zhi Xiao gave them the all so crucial lead. 5-4 R&F.

Even with 7 minutes of added time R&F were able to hold out for the win. It seems an amazing win and start for R&F who I’m sure weren’t expecting a game like that. It’ll be very hard to beat that game this season that’s for sure.

Horror For Henan

Henan Jianye 0-4 Tianjin Quanjian

Henan never got hold of this game. After a well disciplined first half, Axel Witsel put the Tianjin club in front.

After a dominant second half display and a double from Anthony Modeste, Quanjian left Henan with all 3 points winning 4-0.

All Square For Shang Chang

Shanghai Shenhua 1-1 Changchun Yatai

A game in which Shenhua will be disappointed to have only come away with a point. Oscar Romero put the Shanghai side ahead in the 28th minute and looked to capitalise on it.

Unfortunately, after some wasteful attempts from Fredy Guarin, Yatai equalised thanks to some dodgy defebding. All in all, two well matched sides came away with a point. 1-1.

Renhe Retreat With Nothing

Chongqing Lifan 1-0 Beijing Renhe

Newcomers Renhe struggled to find their feet, not as much as Dalian but we’ll come on to that later.

A 23rd minute penalty scored by Alan Kardec was enough to see Lifan home.

Dalian Demolition

Shanghai SIPG 8(eight)-0 Dalian Yifang

Dalian made the worst possible start. Conceding after 20 seconds through Oscar, Dalian never came back.

Before they knew it, they were 3-0 after 40 minutes thanks to another Oscar strike and Hulk penalty. This wasn’t even the worst of it.

5 goals in 25 minutes thanks to a Yifang collapse saw Oscar scored a wondrstrike for a hattrick and also saw Wu Lei grab a treble. This is certainly something new singings Jose Fonte, Yannick Carrasco and Nico Gaitan will want to forget. 8-0.

Evens In Tianjin

Tianjin Teda 1-1 Hebei CF

An even scoreline for an even game. In a quiet first half, Teda took the lead in the 25 minute. A missed penalty in the 69th by Ezequiel Lavezzi put the pressure on Hebei CF. But along came their saviour Chengdong Zhang to make things even. 1-1.

Teixeira Torments Hengfeng

Guizhou Hengfeng 1-3 Jiangsu Suning

A lot of uncertainty has surrounded Alex Teixeira over the past months. He sure put them to bed with a scintillating performance providing Suning with two of the goals to help his side finish off Hengfeng.

Two For Tardelli As Shandong Shine

Shandong Luneng 3-0 Beijing Guoan

With all of the hype over African star Cedric Bakambu, Guoan just couldn’t fire. Instead of Bakambu, Diego Tardelli shone brightest scoring 2 of 3 to finish of Guoan.

That wraps up the Round 1 roundup of the CSL. Some excellent games as well as high quality. If week 1 is anything to go by this year’s Chinese Super League season should be it’s best ever.