Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo could only watch as his new team Shanghai Shenshua were thrashed 4 – 0 at home to defending champion Shanghai SIPG in a Chinese Super League fixture on Friday.
Ighalo joined Shanghai Shenshua from Changchun Yatai who relegated from the top league at the end of the 2017/2018 league season despite seeing Ighalo contribute 21 league goals. Shenshua finished 6th and will be hoping to challenge for the trophy this season with the acquisition of the Nigerian international.
Ighalo who completed the switch in February was in action for 90 minutes for his new club but could not find the back of the net in a frustrating encounter.
An own goal from Fredy Guarin in the 45th minute set the tone for the visiting side before Lu Wenjun made it 2 – 0 in the in the 65th minute. Shenshua’s chance of getting a comeback in the game was punctured when Bai Jianjun was sent off in the 70th minute to reduce the home side to 10 men.
The defending champions capitalized on the slip as former Chelsea star Oscar made the game 3 – 0 in the 78th minute before the rout was completed in the 88th minute through Odil Akhmedov.
With the win, Shanghai moves top of the league after matchday one in the Chinese Super League while Shanghai Shenshua is bottom of the log after conceding four goals.
