The widely expected Premiership match between Charlton and Manchester City, highlighted by the participation of Chinese aces Zheng Zhi and Sun Jihai, drifted to a 0-0 draw on Friday.

 

With the tie, Charlton surpassed Sheffield United to 17th in the standings, the first time the team has been kept from the relegation list since September.

 

 

Two Chinese ace players, Sun Jihai (L) of Manchester City and Zheng Zhi from Charlton, clash for the first time in the Premiership league matches on Friday, April 6, 2007. [sina.com]

 

Chinese captain Zheng Zhi started for Charlton as a right winger, while Sun Jihai was preferred by manager Stuart Pearce as a defensive midfielder.

 

Charlton, struggling in 18th of the 20-team league before the match, was eager for three points to bail itself out. Meanwhile, Man City needed a win to snap its four consecutive losses.

 

The Manchester side gained serial corner kicks after the game started, but the thirsty blue men squandered chances to take a lead.

 

Sun had little time in the front line, but contributed to clearing the team's goal area of threats, including an outstanding success in the 20th minute to deny a breakthrough from Darren Bent, Charlton's top scorer.

 

On the other side, Zheng Zhi failed to play as expected in his unfamiliar position as a right winger. But the competent playmaker managed to play on par in the second half after moving to center field.

 

Zheng closed in on a goal in the 68th minute, but a microsecond of hesitation caused him to miss a header from a comfortable cross from the right side by Luke Young.

 

Zheng fully showed his diligence on the pitch, but he regretted that luck was not with him.

 

Zheng lost a chance to challenge the blue's keeper one on one in the 73rd minute when he burst into the box with a pass from Bent. The best opportunity of the game was denied by a Man City defender, who got to the ball first and headed off Zheng's breakthrough.

 

Zheng, one of China's most talented footballers able to play both defensive and offensive roles, won all three face-to-face confrontations with Sun that left the Man City's midfielder a foul and two failures in stealing the ball.

 

(CRIENGLISH.com April 9, 2007)