Guangzhou Evergrande forward Alan Carvalho (R). (Photo : Getty Images)
Five straight defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC kept their status at the top spot of the 2016 Chinese Super League season after nipping contending squad Shanghai Shenhua FC, 2-1, at their home field of Tianhe Stadium last Saturday.
Brazilian import Alan Carvalho unleashed a brace at the 40th and 71st minutes of the match to lead the Southern China Tigers to their sixth consecutive victory in this year's Chinese top flight competitions, as per Soccerway.
The 26-year-old former Fluminense winger, who was filling in for Guangzhou's injured striker Jackson Martinez in the starting eleven, netted his first goal five minutes before halftime with a strike from 18 yards out off an assist by defender Rong Hao, giving the home team the 1-0 lead at the break.
Shanghai Shenhua managed to level the count at the 69th minute with a goal from ex-Chelsea and Newcastle United striker Demba Ba, as reported by Daily Mail Online.
However, head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's boys responded immediately as Alan scored his second goal in the contest two minutes later with a curling shot from outside the box again from a Rong assist to gain another three points in the overall standings and keep their league leadership.
It was Alan's third goal in three games as the 6-foot José Bonifácio, Brazil native also scored during Evergrande's 4-0 drubbing of Tianjin Teda in the previous matchday.
With the win, Guangzhou extended their winning streak to six games after their opening day loss to Chongqing Lifan back in early March.
In other results, Jiangsu Suning blanked bottom-dwellers Changchun Yatai, 2-0, last Friday at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center.
The win allowed head coach Dan Petrescu's side to stay undefeated this season and also to keep their second-place standing in the current league table, only a point behind Evergrande.
Meanwhile, capital city team Beijing Guoan had their fifth winless performance in six games with a 1-1 draw with Chongqing last Saturday at the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center.
Manager Alberto Zaccheroni's job is allegedly under threat as he failed to live up to the expectations of the Imperial Guards' senior team officials with the team winning only once in their first six games this season.
