Park Jong-woo (No.8) of Guangzhou R&F competes with Beijing Guoan's Zhang Chengdong during their Chinese Super League match in Beijing on Monday. Photo: CFP

 

Beijing Guoan ended their losing streak on Monday as they saw off Guangzhou R&F 2-0 in the fifth round of the ­Chinese Super League (CSL) at Workers' ­Stadium in Beijing.

Guoan are now tied with Guangzhou Evergrande at the top of the table with 12 points, but rank second on goal difference, while R&F, who met their first defeat this season, rank fifth.

Previously, Guoan suffered two consecutive defeats, one domestic league game and one intracontinental game, which put much pressure on coach ­Gregorio Manzano.

"It was a tough game," said Manzano after the game. "We lost two away games which drew some criticism, but today my ­players ­reacted ... I am also happy with our ­defending, in five rounds we conceded only one goal."

Guoan attacked from the beginning, but R&F goalie Cheng Yuelei was the man who stood in the way of the hosts before Joffre Guerron grabbed the ­opener at the very end of added time in the first half.

The 28-year-old Ecuadorian nodded in a cross from Zhou Ting on the right flank.

R&F coach Sven-Goran Eriksson made two substitutions to his starting lineup after the break, which helped his side bounce back from their poor possession.

However, R&F failed to score despite improved efforts, but offered winger Zhang Chengdong the chance to double Guoan's lead around the hour mark. Zhang's header passed the helpless Cheng but hit the left upright.

R&F midfielder Park Jong-woo's sending off in the 81st minute ruined the visitors' hopes. They were then overwhelmed in the midfield by the Greens, proved by Zhou assisting Guoan veteran Shao Jiayi to score the second goal of the game in the 88th minute, 14 minutes ­after replacing Zhang Xizhe.

R&F forward Abderazak Hamdallah, currently league top scorer, almost grabbed a late consolation for the visitors when he picked up a poor back pass from Guerron, only to be denied in a one-on-one by Guoan keeper Yang Zhi.

R&F coach Eriksson indicated the hosts deserve the win for their overwhelming first half.

"We did better in the second half, but when facing a big team like Guoan, you won't have chances to win if you cannot keep a fine form," Eriksson said.

Global Times