Hebei China Fortune midfielder Stéphane M'Bia. (Photo : Getty Images)
Second-running club Hebei China Fortune FC snapped its four-game winning run as the team settled for a 2-2 tie with seventh-placed squad Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC during their 2016 Chinese Super League round 13 encounter held at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Wednesday.
Cameroonian import Stephane M'Bia was the man of the match for head coach Li Tie as the defensive midfielder scored a brace, one goal in each half, to lead the Samba Kings to the share of a point in the overall standings.
Shanghai midfielder Cao Yunding opened the game's scoring with a close range header off an assist by vice-captain Wang Yun at the 15th minute before M'Bia also headed home his first goal of the night 12 minutes later, as per Soccerway.
The visitors grabbed the lead once more during the first half stoppage time as former Chelsea stalwart Demba Ba shot a long-range strike from outside the penalty box and past Hebei keeper Yang Cheng.
The game looked headed Shanghai's way until M'Bia netted one more goal at the 67th minute from a cross by winger Li Hang to save Hebei from what would have been only its third loss this term.
Hebei China Fortune, last season's China League One runners-up and newly-promoted this term, had won four straight games against Beijing Guoan, Yanbian Funde, Chongqing Lifan, and Shandong Luneng before they conceded the draw versus Shenhua.
Despite the draw, they remained at the second spot of the current league table, five points behind league leaders and five straight champions Guangzhou Evergrande and only a point ahead of third-placed squad Jiangsu Suning, Xinhuanet reported.
Hebei was without forward Ezequiel Lavezzi during the match as the Argentine is presently suited up for his home country, who is participating in the ongoing Copa America Centenario held in the United States from June 3 to 26.
After routing Bolivia, 3-0, at the CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Tuesday, Argentina has now officially qualified for the quarterfinals of the said event.
La Albiceleste is set to meet surprise team Venezuela in the final eight at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday and Lavezzi, who scored a goal in their win over Bolivia, is expected to still be with the national squad by then.
