Axel Witsel met a few familiar faces on today’s opponents (Shanghai SIPG) with Hulk and Villas Boas meeting again after they all played together and departed from Zenit last year.
Geuvanio had the first great chance two minutes after the first whistle, but opponent keeper Junling Yan was in the right place preventing a top start from Cannavaro’s side.
Tianjin had the initiative but not the goal and Shanghai was the first producing a goal with Lei Wu at the 39′ minute. Quanjian couldn’t produce the equaliser before half time and Hulk lost a big chance to secure the game for Villas Boas side after missing from the spot ten minutes later.
After an hour of gameplay, Alesandro Pato scored his first goal with Tianjin Quanjian and the draw remained till the end, with two teams sharing the point.
Witsel and co face Beijing Guoan next away on 21/04.
