Hebei China Fortune has pulled off its first win of the 2017 Chinese Super League season with a tough 1-0 victory over newly-promoted squad Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng at their home field of Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Saturday.

Newly-acquired import Hernanes' penalty kick in the 25th minute was enough for Hebei China Fortune to secure the win, the team's first after three rounds of China top-flight competitions.

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Head coach Manuel Pellegrini's squad settled for back-to-back draws in their first two matches of the current season. The team was held to a goalless battle by lowly squad Henan Jianye during their season-opener on March 5 and also in Qinhuangdao before finishing 1-1 in a game with Chongqing Dangdai Lifan on the road at the Chongqing Olympic Sports Center on March 11.

It was the third-straight appearances for Hernanes this season and his first goal for the Samba Kings. The 31-year-old Brazilian midfielder was acquired from Italian top-flight champions Juventus in February for a transfer fee of around $10.6 million.

Together with his compatriot Aloisio, who switched from Shandong Luneng in July last year, the two imports have consistently been included in Pellegrini's starting lineup with Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, South Korean defender Kim Ju-young, and Cameroonian midfielder Stephane M'Bia - each getting a game each from the former Real Madrid and Manchester City boss.

Hebei will next face powerhouse squad Shanghai Shenhua, led by another ex-Juventus player Carlos Tevez, in the fourth round on Saturday also at their home ground.

Meanwhile, it was the third winless performance for Guizhou Zhicheng, who was promoted to the Chinese first division after finishing second in the China League One last season.

Head coach Li Bing's boys opened their campaign with two consecutive 1-1 draws against Liaoning Whowin and Beijing Guoan before suffering their first setback versus Hebei.

Guizhou will host middle-ranked squad Tianjin Teda also on Saturday at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Center for their fourth round fixture.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League 2017, 2017 Chinese Super League, Hebei China Fortune FC, Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng FC