CSL: Beijing Guoan 0-1 Shanghai SIPG

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Shanghai SIPG continue to stay at the top of Chinese Super League's table as the club handed host Beijing Guoan a 1-0 defeat at the Beijing Workers' Stadium on Saturday night.

This victory strengthened SIPG's competitiveness for the crown, and the capital team seems to have theoretically lost the chance to compete for the champion title of CSL within the last six rounds.

Guoan's controversial goal in the 41st minute was denied by VAR, as the main referee decided Jonathan Viera was off-side when Piao Cheng's shin pad somehow rubbed off the ball slightly as it was passed from Renato Augusto.

When the match went into the last 35 minutes, the two sides' became wilder. The deadlock was broken during the 66th minute, when Hulk scored a goal assisted by Wu Lei above the penalty arc.

During the last few minutes, Guoan put all their efforts into play but changed nothing.

In the post-match interview, SIPG's coach Pereira said, "We defended well as a team. For most of the time, we were compact. And I think we played with personality. We showed our ambition and our quality. These are very important and I'm happy with my team."

Currently, Shanghai SIPG are four-points above Guangzhou Evergrande, who defeated Dalian Yifang 3-0 simultaneously, and have a 10-point gap with Beijing Guoan.

Elkeson #9 of Shanghai SIPG (R) and Piao Cheng #8 of Beijing Guoan (L) compete for the ball during 2018 Chinese Super League match at Beijing Workers' Stadium on September 29, 2018, in Beijing, China. /VCG Photo

Line-ups

Beijing Guoan: Guo Quanbo (U23) -- Jiang Tao (Ba Dun, U23, 86'), Zhang Yu, Yu Yang, Jin Taiyan (Wei Shihao, U23, 82')-- Zhang Xizhe, Piao Cheng, Chi Zhongguo, Renato Augusto (C), Jonathan Viera -- Cedric Bakambu

Unused subs: Hou Sen, Hu Yanqiang, Liu Huan, Wang Ziming (U23), Lv Peng

Coach: Roger Schmidt

Shanghai SIPG: Yan Junling -- Fu Huan, He Guan, Shi Ke, Yu Hai -- Cai Huikang, Oscar, Hulk (C, Yu Hao ,U23 90+5') -- Wu Lei (Chen Binbin, U23, 90+5'), Elkeson, Lei Wenjie (U23, Lv Wenjun 24')

Unused subs: Wang Shenchao, Li Shenglong, Lin Chuangyi, Chen Wei (U23)

Coach: Vitor Pereira