Second-running team Jiangsu Suning FC (12-5-5, 41 points) survived a tough challenge from a hard fighting Changchun Yatai FC eleven (4-13-4, 16 points), 2-1, in a 2016 Chinese Super League season match held at the latter's home ground of Development Area Stadium in Changchun on Sunday.

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Australian center back Trent Sainsbury scored the opening goal of the contest at the 28th minute off a header assist from right winger Ji Xiang to put the visitors on the board early, Yahoo Sports reported.

Brazilian winger Alex Teixeira doubled the lead with two minutes to go before the halftime interval as he flicked a pass from newly-acquired Colombian striker Roger Martinez towards the net of Changchun goal tender Wu Yake.

The hosts tried to fight back in the second half as one of their imports, Bolivian striker Marcelo Martins Moreno, scored one at the 62nd minute to cut the lead to one point, 2-1, as per Soccerway.

However, it proved to be the final score in the match as both sides failed to score again afterward.

It was a bounce back win for Jiangsu after they dropped a high-scoring 2-3 decision to streaking squad Shanghai Shenhua in the previous round. The victory was Suning's third in their last four matches as they still try to challenge five straight defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande for the CSL title this season.

With the win, Jiangsu was able to cut the Southern China Tigers lead in the overall standings to just eight points with still eight games left in this current campaign.

Meanwhile, Changchun Yatai remained at the bottom of the 16-team Chinese domestic first division table with only 16 points after 21 games this term.

Head coach Lee Jang-soo's squad had lost five of their last six assignments and had been winless in eight of their previous ten matches, which dropped them to the cellar of the overall standings. Along with them in the bottom two relegation area is Shijiazhuang Ever Bright with 20 points while Shandong Luneng has 23 points at the 14th spot.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Jiangsu Suning FC, Changchun Yatai FC