Out-of-favour national team striker Li Jinyu sent a clear message to China coach Zhu Gunaghu by scoring twice as Shandong Luneng downed Zhejian Lucheng to move back to the top of the Chinese Super League standings.
Thirty-year-old Li, top-scorer in the Super League last season, was not included in Zhu's squad for next month's Asian Cup due a poor run of form, but the former Liaoning and Nancy forward proved he remains as sharp as ever after steering Shandong to the summit.
Newly promoted Zhejian, who beat CSL giants Dalian Shide 3-1 on Saturday, took the lead in the 13th minute when unmarked midfielder Yang Zheng curled in a close-range shot.
Li, however, pulled Shandong level midway through the second half when he leapt high to meet Wang Chao's cross from the left before heading past Zhejiang keeper Jiang Bo.
Han Peng headed beyond Jiang again eight minutes before the final whistle to put Shandong in front for the first time in the game and with four minutes remaining, Li secured the three points for the reigning champions when he latched on to a cross from left-back Wang Chao and smashed the ball home.
The goal was Li's 100th in 14 years as a professional in China and his seventh of the season, leaving him one adrift of Han Peng in the scoring charts for the season so far.
"Zhu Guanghu has been using me for two years (in the national squad)," said Li when asked about his exclusion from the Asian Cup squad.
"But now he says there is no place for me during the Asian Cup. I don't even bother to respond to him now that he thinks that."
Shandong, with 26 points, top the CSL on goal difference after leapfrogging Changchun Yatai, who slipped down to second after losing 3-1 away to Wuhan Huanghelou.
Wang Xiaoshi drew first blood for the hosts in the 18th minute while Brazil international Junior Vicente added a second five minutes before the break.
Changchun's Ivory Coast star Guillaume Dah Zadi cut the deficit 18 minutes before the final whistle only for left winger Zheng Bin to make sure of the win for Wuhan in the 86th minute.
Elsewhere, the four remaining matches ended level, with Dalian Shide being held scoreless by Liaoning Zhongyu and Henan Jianye drawing 1-1 with Shaanxi Baorong.
The game between Changsha Ginde and Shenzhen Kingway also ended without a goal while Xiamen Lanshi and Qingdao Zhongneng shared four goals in their 2-2 draw.
Newly promoted Zhejian, who beat CSL giants Dalian Shide 3-1 on Saturday, took the lead in the 13th minute when unmarked midfielder Yang Zheng curled in a close-range shot.
Li, however, pulled Shandong level midway through the second half when he leapt high to meet Wang Chao's cross from the left before heading past Zhejiang keeper Jiang Bo.
Han Peng headed beyond Jiang again eight minutes before the final whistle to put Shandong in front for the first time in the game and with four minutes remaining, Li secured the three points for the reigning champions when he latched on to a cross from left-back Wang Chao and smashed the ball home.
The goal was Li's 100th in 14 years as a professional in China and his seventh of the season, leaving him one adrift of Han Peng in the scoring charts for the season so far.
"Zhu Guanghu has been using me for two years (in the national squad)," said Li when asked about his exclusion from the Asian Cup squad.
"But now he says there is no place for me during the Asian Cup. I don't even bother to respond to him now that he thinks that."
Shandong, with 26 points, top the CSL on goal difference after leapfrogging Changchun Yatai, who slipped down to second after losing 3-1 away to Wuhan Huanghelou.
Wang Xiaoshi drew first blood for the hosts in the 18th minute while Brazil international Junior Vicente added a second five minutes before the break.
Changchun's Ivory Coast star Guillaume Dah Zadi cut the deficit 18 minutes before the final whistle only for left winger Zheng Bin to make sure of the win for Wuhan in the 86th minute.
Elsewhere, the four remaining matches ended level, with Dalian Shide being held scoreless by Liaoning Zhongyu and Henan Jianye drawing 1-1 with Shaanxi Baorong.
The game between Changsha Ginde and Shenzhen Kingway also ended without a goal while Xiamen Lanshi and Qingdao Zhongneng shared four goals in their 2-2 draw.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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