By Dailysports on July 31, 2020
Obafemi Martins made his first start since his return to Shanghai Shenhua in their 3-2 victory over Shenzhen in Thursday’s Chinese Super League game.
The 35-year-old made his long-awaited return to football when he came off the bench for the Flower of Shanghai in their defeat to Guangzhou Evergrand on Sunday.
The Nigeria international did enough in the encounter to earn a starting role against the Youth Army, pairing Baojie Zhu in the attack.
Mingjian Zhao opened the scoring for the Flower of Shanghai as early as the 10th minute of the game after he was set up by Xinli Peng.
Baojie Zhu doubled the lead three minutes into the second half and John Mary reduced his side’s deficit in the 53rd minute.
Kim scored the third goal for the hosts moments after the hour mark, converting from the penalty spot, which was enough to help Choi Kang-hee’s men seal their first win of the season, despite a late-minute strike from Mary.
Martins struck two shots, completed one dribble and had a 65% successful pass rate in the encounter before he was replaced in the 55th minute by Shin-Wook Kim.
The Super Eagles striker has been without a club since 2018 when he left the Flower of Shanghai after suffering a hamstring injury.
The forward, however, rejoined the Hongkou Football Stadium outfit after recovering from the injury as a direct replacement for his compatriot Odion Ighalo, who teamed up with Manchester United on loan until January 2021.
In his first stint with Shanghai Shenhua, Martins scored 19 league goals in 40 appearances and played a prominent role as the club won the 2017 Chinese FA Cup.
The forward will hope to open his goal account this season when the Flower of Shanghai take on Shandong Luneng Taishan in their next league game on August 5.
Martins has 18 goals in 42 appearances for the Super Eagles since he made his debut at the age of 19 in 2004. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Obafemi Martins
Source Dailysports
Posted July 31, 2020
You may also like...
Everton Move To Second Spot On EPFL After...
NWFL Premiership 2021 Week One: Preview, Analysis, Players...
Manchester United in Talks to Sell Lukaku to...
It’s Okoye time!
NPFL Final Table: Kwara United To Drag NFF...
Plans Underway To Improve VAR in Premier League...
Aribo ready to fight for EPL survival
Adesanya vows to make UFC return after third straight loss
We Apologize To Our Father Dr Peter Odili On Behalf Of His Children Who Have Gone Astray – Edison Ehie
Aston Villa closing in on Rashford loan deal
Adesanya aims for comeback as UFC lands in Saudi
Alonso delighted with Boniface stay
EPL: Wood’s hat-trick fires Nottingham Forest to 7-0 thrashing of Brighton
PDP Governors Announce Date For Party’s NEC Meeting
PDP governors back Appeal Court verdict, endorse Ude Okoye as national secretary
Everton plot £33m Awoniyi move
Barcelona’s Pedri extends contract to 2030
Boniface rejoins Leverkusen training after failed Saudi transfer
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (55,270 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,425 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,456 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,101 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,050 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,039 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,849 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,413 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,500 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,150 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,591 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,020 views)