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Shanghai off to winning strart
(FootballAsia.com)
Updated: 2004-05-18 11:19

German midfielder Jorg Albertz was the hero for Shanghai Shenhua as he hit home a last-gasp penalty to give last year's champions a controversial 2-1 victory over Shandong Luneng in their opening game of the China Super League on Saturday.

Shandong players were furious at the penalty award and an earlier disallowed goal which had thrown the match into confusion.

The match had started with a bang with Shanghai Shenhua striker Saul Martinez scoring in the second minute to go into the record books as hitting the first goal of the new league.

Second half substitute Zhou Haibin, who is part of Arie Haan's national set up, scored the equaliser soon after coming on as a replacement in the 56th minute.

Shandong thought they had claimed the lead in the 63rd minute when Wang Chao hit the target with a long range-effort after Shanghai had failed to clear a corner.

The referee originally awarded the goal but, after a delay during which he consulted the assistant referee, it was ruled out. In the confusion, large sections of the crowd and the media did not realise the goal had been disallowed and the scoreboard stayed at 1-2 to the visitors for more than 12 minutes.

Shandong should have gone ahead in the 89th minute but their French striker Nicolas Ouedec fired over the bar from 10 yards.

With the game heading towards a draw, Shanghai were awarded a controversial penalty. Martinez was impeded by a defender in the box but the main collision which saw both players end on the ground was caused by the Honduran international.

Furious Shandong players surrounded the referee but the decision stood and Albertz converted the penalty with the last kick of the ball.

Meanwhile, Dalian Shide, expected by many to win the title, were on the wrong end of a 4-0 home thrashing at at the hands of Liaoning Zhongyu.

Captain Zhao Junzhe, a key member of the China national team, put Liaoning ahead in the 17th minute when he headed home.

Guo Hui scored the second, also with a header, before defender Zang Haili and Leon Reube, of Cameroon, completed the rout.

In other games, Shenyang and Shenzhen drew 0-0, Qingdao and Inter Shanghai drew 2-2, Beijing drew 1-1 with Sichuan, and Tianjin and Chongqing played out a scoreless draw.

China Super League - results

Shenyang Ginde 0 Shenzhen Jianlibao 0

Qingdao Beilaite 2 Inter Shanghai 2

Beijing Guoan 1 Sichuan Guancheng 1

Tianjin Teda 0 Chongqing Qiche 0

Shanghai Shenhua 2 Shandong Luneng 1

Dalian Shide 0 Liaoning Zhongyu 4

 
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