Stats&Stars

Standings (after eight rounds)

W D L Pts

GZ Evergrande 6 1 0 19

Shandong Luneng 6 1 1 19

Beijing Guo'an 4 3 1 15

Qingdao Jonoon 4 3 1 15

Liaoning Whowin 3 4 1 13

Guizhou Renhe 3 2 1 11

Dalian Aerbin 3 1 4 10

HZ Greentown 2 4 2 10

Shanghai East Asia 2 3 3 9

Shanghai Shenhua 3 5 0 8

Shanghai Shenxin 1 3 3 6

Guangzhou R&F 1 2 4 5

Jiangsu Sainty 1 2 4 5

Changchun Yatai 0 3 5 3

Wuhan Zall 0 2 6 2

Tianjin Teda 1 3 4 0

(Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Teda started the season with six-point deficits due to fixing matches in 2003)

Top scorers

13 goals

Elkeson, Guangzhou Evergrande

8 goals

Edu, Liaoning Whowin

5 goals

Wu Lei, Shanghai East Asia

4 goals

Al Khatib, Shanghai Shenhua, Bruno Meneghel, Qingdao Jonoon, Dady, Shanghai Shenhua, Kieza, Shanghai Shenxin, Gao Di, Hangzhou Greentown, Wang Yongpo, Shandong Luneng

Games to watch

*Guangzhou R&F vs Beijing Guo'an 19:45, Friday

*Shanghai Shenhua vs Guangzhou Evergrande19:45, Friday

*Liaoning Whowin vs Wuhan Zall 14:35, Saturday

NOTE

Coach clashes with player

Changchun Yatai's head coach, Li Shubin, admitted he slammed striker Jos Carlos Ferreira Filho with a chair in the locker room after the Brazilian complained about being substituted early in Sunday's match against Beijing Guo'an.

"Yes, I hit him (with a chair). I was angry and that's what I do when reason doesn't work," Li told Tiantan Sports after losing to Beijing 2-0. "After the bust-up, he realized his mistakes."

Unhappy with Carlos' performance in the first half, Li called on another Brazilian, Isac Felix da Silva, to replace him in 39th minute when Changchun was 1-0 behind. That was met by a furious response from Carlos, who cursed Li while departing the pitch.

The Brazilian continued his protest during the halftime break. Li, who understands English, felt his authority was challenged so he had to get his message across in a more direct way, said team leader Gao Jinggang.

"Li returned to the dressing room first so many of our players didn't see that feud. Our translator told me Carlos abused coach Li, so (the coach) just wanted to make it clear that his authority cannot be challenged," Gao said.

Li said he understood the player's unwillingness to be replaced in a later interview with sina.com on Monday, but also warned the Brazilian not to cross the line again.

"No coach can tolerate the fact that his players don't do their best in a match and fail to obey orders. I just want him to learn from that," Li said.

After winning the "golden boot" award with Brazil Serie A league club Cricima in 2012, Carlos was signed by Changchun with high expectations, but has contributed only one goal in eight matches.

(China Daily 05/07/2013 page22)