Changchun gets season's first victory

BEIJING - Changchun Yatai edged Henan Jianye 1-0 on Sunday, earning its first victory in the 2017 Chinese Super League (CSL).

Both teams had a five-game winless run before their meeting and Jianye has never won any away game against Yatai since 2015.

Yatai last Sunday announced to "rest temporarily" head coach Lee Jang-Soo and place Chen Jingang in Lee's position.

Without injured Odion Ighalo, Yatai had been struggling until the 22nd minute when Jiang Zhe unleashed a powerful shot, only to be denied by Jianye goalkeeper Wu Yan.

The deadlock was broken in the 73rd minute when Yatai striker Tan Long scored from close range after receiving a through ball from Szabolcs Huszti. Jianye then changed its formation to more aggressive 3-4-3 but failed to change the scoreline.

"We haven't seen such good play for a long time," said Chen. "We deserve the win because the players are disciplined and committed."

"If we keep up good work like today's, we will pull ourselves out of the low times," he added.

In the day's other game, Chongqing Lifan held fourth-placed Shandong Luneng to a 1-1.

Guangzhou R&F remains in first place with 16 points from six games, followed by Shanghai SIPG, Guangzhou Evergrande and Shandong Luneng, all with 13 points.