Defending Champions Taishan Nips Guo'an in Chinese Soccer LeagueDefending champions Shandong Taishan extended their winning streak to three and moved to first place in the Chinese first division soccer league with a 1-0 victory over Beijing Guo'an on Sunday.Taishan, who placed second before Sunday's ninth round matches, grabbed the top position for the first time this season with 18 points. Shanghai Shenhua and Chongqing Longxin also collected 18 points after each posted a 1-0 win Sunday but had to stand for the second and third place respectively on goal differences. Taishan and Guo'an contested hotly in the midfield in the first half and a long slap shot by Wilberto Del valle Casiano of Paraguay in the 35th minute hit the bar off Beijing's goal. After the game resumed, Casiano, who transferred from Guo'an to Taishan this season, took no pity on his old team by heading in the winner 25 minutes from time. Ten minutes later, Casiano was sent off after receiving a red card. Guo'an, however, failed to make the advantage of hands into a goal in the time left. After a scoreless first half in the rain in Tainjin, Yugoslavian Dejan Saric scored for Shanghai in the 55th minute on a free kick set up by Chinese international Shen Si and gifted Shenhua the first road win of the season. Chongqing Longxin got a goal from Mark Williams of South Africa in the 70th to upset home contenders Jilin Aodong 1-0. Elsewhere, three-time champions Dalian Shide trounced Sichuan Quanxing 5-2, thanks to two goals from Chinese striker Hao Haidong. Dalian climbed to the fourth place with the win while Sichuan slipped from the top to fifth. Qingdao Hainiu posted their third win by beating Liaoning Fushun 2-1 at home; Shenyang Haishi also collected a home victory with the same score; Xiamen Xiaxin nipped Shenzhen Ping'an 1-0 in a late game. |
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