View from Gongti: Beijing Guoan 1-1 Guangzhou Evergrande

Friday night represented everything the Chinese Super League could be, as two great clubs, Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande, and two top managers went head to head in front of a huge crowd at Worker's Stadium. In the end both sides came away with a deserved point in the 1-1 draw and the fans left happy.

Guoan dominated the first half and while Wang Xiaolong hit the post, Zhang Xizhe found the back of the net just before halftime. Freddie Kanoute, who put in a top performance, found Zhang charging down the wing and the midfielder placed a shot between the Evergrande keeper's legs.

The home side tried to keep up their constant pressure, but Marcello Lippi's side couldn't be kept down, a defensive mishap by Guoan saw new Brazilian import Elkeson get on the end of a cross to equalize just past the hour mark. Guangzhou went down to 10 men in extra time after Zhao Xuri punched a Guoan player and he comically fell down, but the match would end as a draw.

Beijing are on a roll, undefeated in all competitions so far and will have two road matches before returning to Gongti on April 10th to take on Uzbeki side Bunyodkor in the Asian Champions League.

Read Brandon's full match report at WildEastFootball.