Shenhua fights back to stun Shandong

Syrian forward Firas Khatib scored a brace last night for a 2-1 win over Shandong Luneng and spark a Shanghai Shenhua revival in the Chinese Super League.

The comeback win boosted confidence with Shenhua's Argentine coach Sergio Batista claiming that the club was targeting for the Asian Champions League qualification. The win also halted Shandong's four-game winning streak.

Shenhua, which was docked six points before the start of the season for fixing a match 10 years ago, remains undefeated and climbed to 11th in the 16-team CSL table after picking up three points last night. Shanghai East Asia is seventh after holding Guangzhou R&F to a 0-0 draw earlier yesterday. Shanghai Shenxin, on 12th, will take on Beijing Guo'an in the capital tonight.

"The three points gives us more confidence and our ability to score more goals," Batista said. "The three points have changed our perspective and we are no longer thinking of avoiding relegation but targeting the Asian Champions League."

The "striking" three foreign players were back on the pitch as well. Schiavi, Moreno and Toranzo, who had missed two games because of the delay in payment of their dues, started last night. It was Toranzo's through ball in the 77th minute that Khatib converted for the winner.

Shandong, which led the table with four straight wins, dominated the first half of the game, creating numerous opportunities. It grabbed the lead in the 18th minute after its Romanian forward Marius Niculae scored from a header.

Shandong's Brazilian striker Gilberto Macena hit the post in the 42nd minute with Shenhua goalkeeper Wang Dalei keeping the host in the game with some saves. In the 60th minute, Khatib, latched on a long pass, for the equalizer. He then broke the offside trap to steal a big win for the home side.

Batista admitted that the return of trio was a welcome relief but credited the entire team for the comeback win.

"We didn't win just because of them (the striking players). Like I said, I have 27 players ready to get on the pitch," he said.

"Sometimes substitution works and sometimes it fails but tonight it worked."

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