CSL wrap: Danalache hat-trick not enough

5 august 2012 20:20

Jiangsu Sainty missed the chance to climb above Guangzhou Evergrande and into top spot in the Chinese Super League on Sunday.

Before the kick-off, Jiangsu needed a win to overhaul Evergrande's two-point lead at the summit but not even a first half hat-trick from the league's leading goal scorer Cristian Danalache was enough to avoid a 3-3 draw against Shandong Luneng.

Du Wei thought he had spoiled the party for Jiangsu with a goal inside the opening two minutes but Danalache struck an equaliser just four minutes later, much to the delight of the home faithful.

Shandong hit the front yet again, this time through Lu Zheng on 18 minutes, however proved to be the last time the visitors enjoyed the lead.

Danalache levelled on 30 minutes and he then stepped up from the spot to not only hand Jiangsu a 3-1 lead on the stroke of half-time but net his 17th goal of the campaign.

And to continue the tone of the match, Simao Junior equalised on the hour mark as relegation-threatened Shandong took a valuable point.

In Guangzhou, R&F were unable to move into the top four after Tianjin Teda accounted for the host side 2-1.

Nigerian striker Yakubu netted his third goal for R&F in the 22nd minute but Cao Yang and Sjoerd Ars both found the back of the net to help Tianjin catapult into seventh position.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Shenxin salvaged a priceless point at Dalian Aerbin courtesy of an 82nd minute strike from former A-League midfielder Jonas Salley.