Guangzhou Evergrande opened the defence of their Chinese Super League title with a win yesterday but it was Carlos Tevez who grabbed the individual headlines by scoring once and creating two goals in Shanghai Shenhua’s 4-0 thumping of Jiangsu Suning.

Tevez, who swapped Boca Juniors for Shanghai in December in a deal that reportedly makes him one of the highest-paid players in the world, made an inauspicious start to life in China as Gus Poyet’s side were defeated 2-0 by Brisbane Roar in the Asian Champions League last month.

But it took him just 36 minutes to get on the scoresheet on his first league start, netting a penalty after a handball inside the area. That moved the hosts into a 2-0 lead following Giovanni Moreno’s opener, a goal assisted by Tevez. Mao Jianqing and Moreno – Tevez with the assist again – completed the rout in the second half.
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Jiangsu’s miserable night was completed with Brazilian Alex Teixeira sent off for lashing out deep into injury time. Brazil international Paulinho netted both goals as Guangzhou saw off Beijing Guoan 2-1.

The former Tottenham midfielder opened the scoring after 19 minutes and then grabbed an 87th-minute winner after Burak Yilmaz had drawn Beijing level from the penalty spot.