Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan vows to pull striker-less Shanghai SIPG up after debut heroics
Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has vowed to carry Shanghai SIPG on his shoulders even though they are not blessed with attackers in their squad after pulling the club to the top of the league in his debut game for the Chinese Super League side.
The new signing from Ghana moved Shanghai SIPG to the top of the league following its win over Tianjin Teda last night.
The Ghana captain scored one goal and created a penalty for the hosts in their 2-1 win, which also marked his CSL debut.
Tianjin opened the scoring when Argentine striker Hernan Barcos made use of a poor back pass by SIPG captain and defender Sun Xiang in the 35th minute.
Gyan was sent onto the pitch by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in the second half, which proved to be the turning point of the match.
He was fouled by Tianjin goalie Du Jia in the box in the 57th. Davi stepped up to the penalty spot and netted the equalizer.
Gyan then scored a header in the 79th on an accurate pass by Wu Lei to seal the vital three points that propelled the hosts to the top spot in the league.
“I haven’t touched ball for like a month, but we don’t have a choice as the team has no other strikers,” Gyan said in a postmatch interview.
“I’m very experienced so there is no problem working together with my team-mates. What I have to do now it to raise my fitness level.”
SIPG has 41 points after 19 rounds, and will take on current runner-up Beijing Guo’an next Monday.
Beijing is two points behind SIPG after losing 1-3 at Shanghai Shenhua Greenland on Wednesday.
Gyan moved to the Chinese side last week after sealing a mega million dollar move from UAE side Al Ain.
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