Shanghai Shenhua SVA pulled off a 2-0 victory over visiting
Qingdao Zhongneng through two second-half strikes in an 18th round
Chinese Super League clash.
The host, still reeling from a 1-2 shock defeat to bottom side
Xiamen Lions, had a lackluster first half, giving a punchless
display against another league minnow.
After the break, Shenhua stepped up its offense, with Wang Ke
breaking the stalemate in the 55th minute. The midfielder's volley
from 20 meters out took a deflection off a Qingdao defender's leg,
traveled on a weird curve and hit home in the top right corner.
The team's second came in an even more impressive manner. Left
winger Cheng Liang, a rare name on Shenhua's scorer list, produced
a volley in the same area on the hour mark. No deflection this
time. The ball found the net straight away.
Shenhua rose to fifth in the table with 29 points. Shandong
Luneng extended its lead at the top to 11 points after a 3-1 win
over Shanghai United FC on Saturday. It has 42 points.
Beijing, 2-0 winner over Shenzhen Kingway, sits in second
place.
Elsewhere, 10-man Dalian Shide outscored Changchun Yatai 3-2;
International Xi'an thrashed Wuhan Guanggu 3-0; Xiamen Lions edged
Chong-qing Lifan 1-0 and Tianjin Teda beat Shenyang Ginde
2-0.
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(Shanghai Daily July 17, 2006)
