'Zac' under attack as goal-shy Beijing crash

Ex-Juventus and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni came under pressure for his job after goal-shy Beijing Guoan lost 3-0 to Luiz Felipe Scolari's Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League.

China striker Gao Lin opened the scoring in the 10th minute before Brazilian international playmaker Ricardo Goulart netted in the 44th and 81st minutes in front of 53,080 fans at Beijing's Workers' Stadium.

The defeat leaves Beijing, traditionally one of China’s strongest sides, second bottom in the table after only earning one point in three games and scoring zero goals.

Beijing have played one game fewer than their rivals, and eight-million-euro ($9.1 million) signing from Galatasaray, Turkish international striker Burak Yilmaz, is injured and has yet to make his debut.

However, former AC Milan, Internazionale and Lazio manager Zaccheroni faced a barrage of calls for his resignation on Chinese social media, one of which was even "liked" by Beijing board member Shen Li.

Beijing chairman Luo Ning said the club backed the Italian, but he added: "The start of this season has seen some unfortunate calamities happen to us. Ultimately though, success is measured by results on the pitch."

Elsewhere, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Shanghai SIPG won their first league game of the season with a solid 4-0 victory at home over Liaoning.

More than 25,000 fans watched former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan complete the win with a goal 10 minutes from time after Lu Wenjun, Wu Lei and Brazilian striker Elkeson scored in the ninth, 45th and 70th minutes respectively.

League-leaders Jiangsu Suning left it late to win 1-0 away to Henan Jianye, as recent big-money signings Alex Teixeira and Ramires fired blanks.

It was left to Chinese international Ji Xiang to score three minutes from time to keep the club one point ahead of Guangzhou Evergrande at the top of the table.

Ex-Paris Saint-Germain forward Ezequiel Lavezzi’s Hebei China Fortune moved up to third in the table with a 1-0 win over Changchun Yatai, thanks to a 59th-minute goal from Luo Senwen.
SourcE: AFP