Ighalo opens China goal account with brace

Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo was in sublime form on Saturday as he opened his goal account in the Chinese Super League with a brace as his team Changchum Yatai lost 2-3 at home to Shanghai Shehua.

The Edo state-born striker who joined from Watford of England for a fee reported to be in the region of £20million, ended his four-game barren run with two strikes which could, however, not prevent his team from home defeat.

Fredy Guarin’s volley had given the visitors the lead after 18 minutes, but the Nigerian levelled matters from the penalty spot 22 minutes later.

Ighalo was fouled by goalkeeper Shuai Li and he converted the resulting kick with a low shot past Li.

Five minutes into the second half, he completed his double by tucking home a cross from Brazil’s Marinho.

Poor goalkeeping from Fan Yi saw Yunding Cao equalise two minutes later, while another Nigerian international Obafemi Martins assisted Giovanni Andres Moreno two minutes from full time to seal the win.

Martins was on parade from start to finish and had his 56th minute goal ruled for offside.

Ighalo’s Yatai sit at the base of the Chinese topflight log with one point from five games. They will host Henan Jianye in their next outing on April 23.