Capital city team Beijing Guoan FC claimed its first home win of the 2016 Chinese Super League season while Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC extended its winning streak to eight games as the ninth round of China top flight competitions were completed.
The Imperial Guards defeated perennial powerhouse Shanghai SIPG FC, 2-1, at the Workers' Stadium on Saturday to gain their first victory in the current term, Cri English reported.
Brazilian defensive midfielder Ralf Teles scored the opening goal of the contest at the 24th minute before SIPG's Ivorian forward Jean Evrard Kouassi equalized the count seven minutes later off an assist from Shanghai's other import, winger Dario Conca, to reach the end of the first half in a 1-1 standoff.
Midfielder Zhang Xizhe broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart off a cross by local striker Yu Dabao to hand under fire head coach Alberto Zaccheroni his second win in eight games this season.
With the win, Beijing snapped a three-game winless slide as they climb to the ninth spot of the current league table.
Meanwhile, defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande blanked newly-promoted club Hebei China Fortune FC, 2-0, at the Tianhe Stadium also last Saturday to complete an eight-game winning run, as per Soccerway.
Winger Yu Hanchao finally opened the scoring for Luiz Felipe Scolari's squad at the 44th minute following a shaky start against the Samba Kings, who were spearheaded by internationals Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gervinho, and Gaël Kakuta up front.
The Southern China Tigers then doubled their lead at the 48th minute with a strike from Brazilian forward Alan Carvalho from an assist by resident striker Gao Lin.
It was the eighth consecutive win for Guangzhou after their opening day defeat in the hands of lowly team Chongqing Lifan. They remain at the top spot of the league table.
The five straight CSL winners continue to sideline Colombian striker Jackson Martinez after the 29-year-old appeared in their first five fixtures of the season.
Rumors are out that Martinez is set to be returned to AC Milan in a free transfer as Evergrande co-owner Jack Ma, also the founder and chairman of the Alibaba Group, is planning a £550-million takeover of the Italian Serie A club this summer.