CSL highlights on Sep. 9: Evergrande secured for title competition

Guangzhou Evergrande defeated Shenzhen F.C. 2-0 in a Chinese Super League (CSL) game on Wednesday night, leading Group A with 25 points. Considering that the No. 5 Shenzhen already trailed 14 points behind them, Guangzhou secured a spot in the championship competition group in the future four games earlier.

Guangzhou launched a violent attack from the beginning and scored first in the 28th minute. Paulinho and Yang Liyu made a brilliant game in front of the box, enabling Paulinho to receive the ball close to the goal. He helped Guangzhou lead 1-0 with a smart push.

Then in the 54th minute, Paulinho passed a through ball towards Talisca, who did a miskick on purpose. While Shenzhen's defensive line was distracted by Talisca's move, Fei Nanduo followed in fast and scored the second goal for Guangzhou with a strong shot.

Talisca had the chance to make it 3-0 for Guangzhou, but his volley hit the bar. That did not keep Guangzhou from pocketing the valuable win.

Paulinho of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates after scoring a goal in the CSL game against Shenzhen F.C. in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, September 9, 2020. /VCG

Fei Nanduo (L) of Guangzhou Evergrande dribbles the ball in the CSL game against Shenzhen F.C. in Dalian, September 9, 2020. /VCG

Paulinho (C) of Guangzhou Evergrande controls the ball in the CSL game against Shenzhen F.C. in Dalian, September 9, 2020. /VCG

Xu Xin (L) of Guangzhou Evergrande dribbles the ball in the CSL game against Shenzhen F.C. in Dalian, September 9, 2020. /VCG

Piao Zhishu (R) of Guangzhou Evergrande defends Harold Preciado of Shenzhen F.C. in the CSL game in Dalian, September 9, 2020. /VCG

In the other CSL game on Wednesday night, Shanghai Shenhua managed to get a 1-1 draw against Shandong Luneng thanks to a life-saving goal by Giovanni Moreno. Graziano Pelle scored first for Shandong by taking advantage of the chaos in Shanghai's box in the 19th minute. Shanghai scored nothing until the 82nd minute. Moreno cut in from the right and scored a screw shot to make it 1-1 for his team.