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Shenhua off to a flying start with easy derby win over Shenxin

2014-03-10 16:08 Shanghai Daily Web Editor: Gu Liping
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Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker Gao Di (center) scores past Shanghai Shenxin goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo (left) during their CSL match yesterday. Gao had a sensational debut for his new club, scoring both the goals in Shanghai derby. — Xinhua

Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker Gao Di (center) scores past Shanghai Shenxin goalkeeper Liu Dianzuo (left) during their CSL match yesterday. Gao had a sensational debut for his new club, scoring both the goals in Shanghai derby. — Xinhua

Shanghai Greenland Shenhua kicked off its Chinese Super League season with a comfortable 2-0 derby victory over Shanghai Shenxin with new signing Gao Di finding the net twice.

Both the goals came from freekicks. In the 29th minute, Shenhua's new Brazilian defender Paulo Andre's freekick was ferried by Colombian Giovanni Moreno inside the box with Gao tapping for the visiting team's opener.

Shenxin had a chance before the break to equalize when its Brazilian striker Kieza dribbled past Shenhua goalkeeper Geng Xiaofeng with an empty goal in front of him only to find his shot blocked by compatriot Paulo Andre just in front of the line.

Shenhua pushed ahead and extended its lead in the 78th minute when Xu Liang's freekick found an unmarked Gao Di in the box, who headed home to make it a memorable debut for his new club.

The 24-year-old Gao spent his first full CSL season with Hangzhou Greentown last year and moved to Shanghai this year.

"He is an allrounder, and I trust him to both attack and defend," Shenhua head coach Shen Xiangfu said of Gao. "He has a bright future ahead front of him," he said of the Shandong Province native.

Shen was happy with the victory, even more so as it was played in front of over 2,000 travelling supporters at Jinshan Stadium.

Shanghai Shenxin was forced to shift base to Jinshan because of ongoing renovation work at its Yuanshen Stadium in Pudong.

Shenxin's head coach Cheng Yaodong said the team had to improve a lot, although the absence of several key injured players didn't give him much choice in the line-up.

Cheng played as defender for Shanghai International, which beat Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 in 2002 in the then top-tier Jia A league.

Also turning up for Shenxin yesterday was former Shenhua captain Yu Tao.

Shenxin will take on another Shanghai outfit East Asia in its next CSL game at the Shanghai Stadium next Sunday.

It was Shenhua's first game after being taken over by real estate giant Greenland Group in the offseason. A new bonus system has been worked out with players tipped to earn 700,000 yuan (US$114,240) for every point earned, meaning the victory brought the players 2.1 million yuan in additional income.

In other first round CSL matches yesterday, Shanghai East Asia held Liaoning Whowin 1-1 in an away match, while Tianjin Teda and Guangzhou R&F also played out a 1-1 draw.

Guangzhou Evergrande leads the CSL standing with goal difference after the first round. Shanghai Greenland Shenhua is second.

 

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