Hong Kong international Shinichi Chan was the unlikely hero with a winner deep into stoppage time as Shanghai Shenhua beat visiting Zhejiang Greentown 3-2 in the Chinese Super League on Saturday.
Chan was only called upon in the 63rd minute to replace Xu Haoyang and the left-back found the net in the 98th minute to give his side their fourth win in six matches this season.
Speaking afterwards, the 22-year-old said he did not expect to be his side’s match winner.
“Usually it’s Yu [Hanchao], so it felt good it was my turn today,” the former Kitchee player said. “After I scored, I was thinking how to celebrate but my head was totally blank.
“Of course, we want to win more comfortably, this is what we need to focus on. We have our next two league matches [against Qingdao Hainiu and Wuhan Three Towns], we want to make sure we grab the maximum six points in front of the home fans.”
Joao Teixeira had given the hosts a 1-0 lead at half-time with a 21st minute effort and that was how it remained until a frantic final 20 minutes in which Chan played a leading role.
