Walter Martinez contributed two goals and rising star Yan
Xiangchuang netted another to lift victory-thirsty Beijing Guoan
over Dalian Shide 3-1 in a Chinese Football Super League match on
Sunday.
It's the seventh victory the Beijing side has earned out of a
total of 27 clashes between the two powerhouses. The Dalian side
has won 12 of them.
With the home win, Beijing Guoan which achieved a flying start
in the season, but later fell into a three-draw slump, climbed to
second place in the standings.
The win also helped pressure-ridden Lee Jang Soo, who was
rumored to have lost ground in the club after the winless series,
regain the team's trust.
Dalian Shide took the initiative in the beginning to put
constant pressure on Lee Jang Soo and his team, who were determined
to play defensively throughout the match.
However, Lee's team, a favorite in the title competition,
succeeded in proving they can also do well in offense.
Martinez, a Honduran international, put a grounder shot into the
low left corner of Dalian's goal in the 21st minute after catching
a feed from Zhang Shuai and breaking up the rival's offside
trap.
The Dalian side closed in on an equalizer in a 36th minute melee
in Beijing's box. However, Zhang Yaokun's diving header was
shielded by a defender on the goal line.
Dalian spared no efforts offensively, but they paid for their
negligence in defense. Beijing again battered the visiting team
just seconds into the second half after youngster Yan Xiangchuang
burst into the box and finished off an easy goal.
Martinez made it 3-0 in the 74th minute by sending in a
comfortable cross from Zhang Shuai that fellow striker Du Wenhui
missed.
Dalian Shide fought back with an only goal from Darko
Delinic.
In other matches, Wuhan rallied for an unexpected win over
mighty Shandong, Qingdao beat Shaanxi 3-1 and Henan tied with
Shenzhen 0-0.
(CRI April 16, 2007)