Australia national team forward Tim Cahill led his new Chinese Super League squad, Hangzhou Greentown FC, to an impressive 2-1 victory over last season's 10th-placed squad Changchun Yatai FC at the Yellow Dragon Sports Center in Huanglong, Hangzhou last Sunday.

The 36-year-old veteran footballer, who was controversially released by his former club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua last month allegedly to give way to the arrival of ex-Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins, scored Hangzhou's second goal at the 21st minute of the match to give the Green Giants their first win of the new season, as per Football Australia.

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Taiwanese import Chen Po-liang opened the scoring for Greentown right at the third minute off a brilliant pass from local midfielder Feng Gang to give Hong Myung-bo's men the early lead.

Changchun, who is currently coached by Slovenian manager Slaviša Stojanović, was able to put themselves on the board at the 70th minute via a goal from Bolivian import Marcelo Moreno from an assist by team captain Zhang Xiaofei.

Last season, Cahill led Shanghai Shenhua to finish at the sixth spot of the CSL table, appearing in 28 games in the Chinese domestic top flight and scoring 11 goals for then head coach Francis Gillot.

Cahill was a fan-favorite in Shanghai and a lot of the team's supporters have expressed disappointment about his release in February. In a statement, Cahill expressed his sadness and regret in having to leave Shenhua after only a season of play coming from a three-season stint with the MLS' New York Red Bulls.

When Gillot's contract ended in November of last year, Spanish bench tactician Gregorio Manzano took his place and had reportedly told Cahill that he is not part of his plans for the Blue Devils entering this new season, as reported by ESPN.

Because of the said incident, the 5-foot-8 Sydney native mutually agreed to separate with Shenhua and moved on by joining rival squad Greentown.

TagsChinese Super League, 2016 Chinese Super League, China Football, Hangzhou Greentown FC, Changchun Yatai FC, Tim Cahill