CSL: Wang Song sets new record as Rafael Silva goes from hero to zero

As Rafael Silva escaped down the tunnel of the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre on Sunday night after referee Shi Zhenlu showed him the red card, the ear-splitting, guttural mocking jeers that rose from the home crowd of 33,100 were inescapable.

Only Rafael himself knew what was going through his mind when the Wuhan Zall striker inexplicably whacked the ball into the face of Tian Yinong after the pair came together, sending the Jiangsu Suning midfielder tumbling to the ground and writhing in pain.

Just two minutes earlier, the 26-year-old Brazilian had just halved the deficit for Zall with his first Chinese Super League goal. There could have been a frantic finish and a possible point for the visitors, but a rush of blood and a resulting red card swung the game into Suning's favor and condemned the CSL new boy their second loss in three outings.

Wuhan Zall's Rafael walks towards the tunnel after being sent off during their clash with Jiangsu Suning, March 31, 2019. /VCG Photo

It was a premature end for Rafael, who could face multi-game suspension and a massive blow for Zall, who will be without their most dangerous attacker when the going gets increasingly tough.

Although Li Tie insisted that Silva was not making a deliberate effort to hurt Tian, the Zall coach accepted that the Brazilian's petulance was only going to lead to one outcome.

"Without a doubt, Rafael did not intend to injure the player. He told me it was a heat of the moment thing," said Li. "The referee has got no option but to send him off. But he had apologized to the player after the game."

Rafael (C) is shown a red card after a petulant foul at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, east China, March 31, 2019. /VCG Photo

The sentiment was echoed by a rueful Rafael who took to social media in the early hours of Monday to express regret for any harm caused to Tian.

"Today's game was very intensive, the players are trying very hard on the pitch," read a hand-written statement on his Weibo account. "At the moment I made the foul, I just want to clear the ball, unintentionally the ball hit the face of the player."

"I want to apologize for my action in the game, especially to the player from Jiangsu Suning FC."

It was an awkward end to what had been a fairly uneventful night up until then. The game ebbed and flowed until Suning forced the issue and found a breakthrough in the 25th minute.

Rafael is pictured penning an apology letter to Tian Yinong after the incident, March 31, 2019. /Photo courtesy of Rafael's official Weibo

A smart header by Wang Song means the 36-year-old veteran has now gotten his name on the scoresheet for the 18th season in a row–the first player to accomplish the feat in Chinese professional soccer league.

Suning suddenly getout of first gear and had a period during which they really sparkled. The second goal was delivered by an irrepressible Wu Xi, who scored an audacious backheel flick after his first attempt was smothered by Zall goalkeeper Dong Chunyu.

In fairness to Zall, their endeavor in trying to claw back a two-goal deficit did not let up even if the barrier was a difficult one to overcome. They were rewarded with a stunning Rafael goal but to no avail.

Though the contest was ultimately settled by the quality of Wu's finish, its complexion was utterly altered by a whack of a Zall player's boot rather than a Suning one.

Jiangsu Suning's fantastic duo Wu Xi (L) and Wang Song celebrate their win over Wuhan Zall, March 31, 2019. /VCG Photo 

Elsewhere, Shandong Luneng cruised past Tianjin Tianhai 4-2 to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign, while Shenzhen FC's winning streak came to an end when Adrian Mierzejewski earned Chongqing Lifan a 1-0 win.

Gio Moreno's 88th-minute winner gave Shanghai Shenhua their first win of the season at the expense of Henan Jianye, who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home.