CSL wrap: Guangzhou open title defence in style

Reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande have begun the new Chinese Super League season with a 5-1 thumping of Shanghai Shenxin.

Brazilian striker Elkeson scored twice for Evergrande as they destroyed Shenxin in the second half in Guangzhou, notching all five of their goals after the break with the visitors adding a late consolation through Yang Jiawei.

After Shenxin worked hard to keep the game scoreless in the first half, the home team increased their intensity after the break, with Dario Conca scoring the opening goal for Evergrande in the 50th minute following a knock down by Gao Lin.

Elkeson grabbed his first goal of the game in the 61st minute when Conca jumped over Ni Bo’s pass to let the ball run to the 23-year-old Brazilian, who swivelled at the top of the box, before thumping his shot home.

Just two minutes later Guangzhou controversially made it 3-0 as Conca, who was offside, received Elkeson’s pass before teeing up Gao.

Elkeson produced a fine curling shot in the 72nd minute to complete his brace and Evergrande moved five goals clear with two minutes left plus stoppage time through substitute Muriqui.

Yang’s deflected strike gave Shenxin some joy a minute later but it did nothing to change the outcome for Evergrande, who moved straight to the top of the CSL on goal difference.

Each of the top three clubs from last season all won on Friday, with Beijing Guoan (third in 2012) crushing Shanghai SIPG 4-1 and Jiangsu Sainty (second) defeating Wuhan Zall 2-1.

In Beijing, Guoan scored three times in the first half to take a 3-1 lead into half-time before an own goal after the break from SIPG’s Wang Jiajie wrapped up the win for the home side.

Lang Zheng, Joffre Guerron and Wang Xiaolong scored for Guoan in the first half with SIPG attacking midfielder Wu Lei grabbing the visitors’ goal after some fine footwork in the box.

In the 79th minute, the hosts wrapped up the scoring at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing, when a cross from the right was headed into his own net by visiting defender Wang.

Guoan took second spot on the CSL standings ahead of Sainty, while Qingdao Jonoon are fourth after Bruno Meneghel’s second-half injury time goal gave them a 2-1 win away to Guizhou Renhe.