Beijing down merged Shanghai, Shandong off at a canter

BEIJING, Mar 5 (Reuters) Beijing Guoan won at Shanghai Shenhua for the first time in Chinese Super League history with a 2-0 victory at the weekend, condemning their newly-merged opponents to the worst possible start to the new season.

Shenhua were tipped to win the championship after combining forces with city rivals Shanghai United last month, but were soundly beaten on Saturday in traditionally one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in the calendar.

Beijing's Tao Wei converted a first-half penalty after China goalkeeper Wang Dalei brought down Guo Hui while Brazilian Alysson Marendaz Marins made the most of his pace to double the advantage moments after coming on as a 79th-minute substitute.

''I am working very hard to forge a team spirit among the players ... after all, they belonged to two different camps only a month ago,'' Shanghai's Uruguayan coach Osvaldo Gimenez told the Shanghai Daily.

''It's not fair to blame anybody at this stage. As time goes on, things will swing in our favour, for certain.'' Champions Shandong Luneng thrashed Liaoning 5-2 to start the new season with the same dominance they finished the last.

Goals from Cui Peng, Han Peng, Aleksandar Zivkovic, Wang Yongpo and Jiao Zhe ensured influential playmaker and China skipper Zheng Zhi, now in England with Charlton Athletic, was not overly missed.

''Zheng Zhi is irreplaceable,'' said Shandong coach Ljubisa Tumbakovic. ''But I'm satisfied with how Wang Yongbo filled in for him.'' Bulgarian striker Zoran Jankovic had a mixed opening match for Dalian Shide on Sunday, scoring the only goal in the eight-times champions' 1-0 win over Changsha Gide with a 60th- minute free kick before being sent off for spitting.

Changchun, who finished fourth last season, won 3-1 at Xiamen, and promoted Zhejiang Lucheng drew 1-1 with Qingdao in Hangzhou.

Wuhan and Tianjin also shared a 1-1 draw, while Shenzhen against Xian finished goalless.

Reuters AKJ DB1016