Struggling perennial powerhouse Shandong Luneng Taishan FC (6-11-5, 23 points) snapped its two-game losing skid with a 2-1 win over middling club Guangzhou R&F FC (8-9-5, 29 points) on the road at the Yuexiushan Stadium last Sunday, August 14.

Attacking midfielder Walter Montillo led the squad with a goal at the 33rd minute off an assist from high-profile striker Graziano Pellè to equalize the game in response to Brazilian winger Renatinho's opening goal at the 32nd minute from a pass by Israeli import Eran Zahavi, via Soccerway.

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The 32-year-old Argentinian then assisted to local right winger Liu Binbin to grab the lead in the match three minutes after the hour mark in the second half.

Binbin's goal proved to be the game-winner as both sides have failed to add to their scoring production for the rest of the game.

The win put a stop to Taishan Dui's two-game losing slide. It was also the fourth win in their last seven matches to help Shandong climb out of bottom two relegation to the 14th spot of the league table. The team is still at risk of demotion to the Chinese second-tier league next term, though, with eight games remaining in their current campaign.

Shandong's victory is also seen as preparation for the squad's AFC Champions League quarterfinal match against South Korean club FC Seoul at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 24, the South China Morning Post reported.

Shandong defeated A-League side Sydney FC in the Round-of-16 stage of Asia's premier club continental competitions 3-3 on aggregate on away goals after a 2-2 draw at the Sydney Football Stadium on May 25 to advance to the last eight.

Meanwhile, Shanghai SIPG will accompany Felix Magath's team in the quarters of the Champions League as they are set to face another K League Classic outfit, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, at the Shanghai Stadium on August 23.

As for Guangzhou R&F, the loss was its third straight winless game, which kept them at seventh place in the current domestic league table.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, Guangzhou R&F FC