Hebei China Fortune edged Qingdao Huanghai 2-1 in the seventh round of the 2020 Chinese Super League (CSL)'s Suzhou division on Thursday, making it three wins from three.

Hebei dominated from the off, and Ren Hang's 13th minute volley forced Qingdao goalkeeper Liu Zhenli into a good save.

Eight minutes later, Yin Hongbo's long pass was punched out of the box by Liu, preventing Buya Turay from giving Hebei the lead.

In the 28th minute, Pan Ximing finally put Hebei ahead after Wang Qiuming's powerful shot deflected off him and into the net.

Wang Fei could have equalized for Qingdao before the break, but could only shoot over the bar after a Hebei clearance fell his way.

Qingdao coach Wu Jingui introduced Romain Alessandrini and Zhu Jianrong for the second half, and the move paid dividends in the 64th minute, when Zhu scored after collecting Alessandrini's pass.

However, Hebei were back in the lead just 10 minutes later, when Samir Memisevic's long-range volley found the net.

Alessandrini's evening soon turned sour, as the Frenchman saw red in the 78th minute for his unsportsmanlike reaction to Liu's tackle.

Hebei defender Zhang Chengdong was also sent off in the game's dying moments, but Qingdao failed to find another equalizer before the final whistle.

At the halfway point in the 2020 CSL season's first period, Hebei sit fourth in the Suzhou division, while Qingdao rank sixth.

"We are all satisfied with the halfway result. We'd like to keep this good situation until the end of the season," said Zhu afterwards. 

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)