Dalian Beats Chongqing to Keep Leading StatusLeague leaders Dalian Shide consolidated their leading status in the Chinese first division soccer league after beating the visiting Chongqing Longxin 2-0 in the 15th round on Sunday.Chinese international Sun Jihai shook off several defenders to score in the box with eight minutes into action, giving Shide a 1- 0 lead. Brazilian Adilsondos Santos made it 2-0 in the 51st minute on a corner kick. Longxin's best chance came in the injury time but a powerful shot hit the bar. "It's a difficult match for both sides in Dalian's steaming heat, fortunately we finally won it," said Dalian's Yugoslav head coach Milorad Kosanovic. He added: "In the last nine matches, our players have shown their increasingly good form." Dalian, four-time league champions in six seasons, have kept unbeaten in the last nine rounds, winning seven and tying two and standing atop in the tally with 33 points. Longxin now stay in the fifth place by collecting 26 points with 7-5-3. China's national team head coach Bora Milutinovic, who returned from the Euro 2000 yesterday, made a special travel from Beijing to Dalian to watch the match. "It's a fantastic match," the Yugoslav legendary coach said. " Dalian played much better than Longxin." Shanghai Shenhua, the 1997 league champion, beat Jilin Aodong 2- 1 to remain second placer in the standings with 30 points, followed by defending champion Luneng Taishan with 29, who defeated Xiamen Xiaxin 2-0. In other matches, Shenzhen Ping'an routed Yunnan Hongta 2-0, Shenyang Haishi ousted Liaoning Fushun 2-0, Qingdao Hainiu edged Sichuan Quanxing 1-0 and Beijing Guo'an beat Tianjin Taida 2-1. |
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