"Steel Coach" Lee brings first victory to Changchun
Xinhua, May 22, 2016 Adjust font size:
South Korean Lee Jang-soo, one of the best known foreign coaches in China, helped Changchun Yatai taste their first victory in the 2016 Chinese Super League (CSL) on Sunday.
Marcelo Moreno scored the sole goal in Changchun's 1-0 win over Guangzhou R&F.
Lee was coach of Guangzhou Evergrande in 2010 when the team were relegated from the CSL over a match-fixing scandal. He led the team back to the top flight and the CSL title in 2011. Guangzhou won the CFA Super Cup in February 2012.
When Lee was named Changchun coach early this month, the northeastern team were without a win this season after seven rounds. The 60-year-old South Korean, known to Chinese as "Steel Coach" for his tough training methods, was tasked with pulling the team out of the relegation zone.
"Maybe most of you are not happy about that I came to Yatai," Lee told Changchun players in their first training session under his eyes.
Moreno's powerful shot in the 74th minute nailed Changchun's first full three points this season.
Beijing Guoan, the 2009 league champions, drew with Shijiazhuang Ever Bright 1-1 and have gathered only 10 points from as many rounds.
Shijiazhuang goalkeeper Guan Zhen scored a penalty in the 38th minute before Renato Augusto equalized in the 54th.
In the other games on Sunday, Hebei China Fortune edged Yanbian Fude and Shanghai Greenland downed Chongqing Lifan. Endit