Erstwhile 2016 Chinese Super League season title contenders Hebei China Fortune (10-7-5, 35 points) was held to a 0-0 draw by equally struggling team Liaoning Whowin FC (6-7-8, 26 points) at the Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium on Sunday, August 14.

It was the second straight drawn match for the newly-promoted side and also their seventh winless effort in their last eight China top flight matches which includes a five-game losing skid, as per Soccerway.

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With their current woes, the Samba Kings have now stayed to fifth place in the overall standings.

Hebei placed as high as the second spot behind league leaders and defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande during the first few weeks of the season. But after their winless spell, Jiangsu Suning, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, and Shanghai SIPG have all overtaken them in the league table.

The problems for manager Li Tie's side began during the injury suffered by former AS Roma forward Gervinho and the participation of ex-Paris Saint-Germain striker Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 2016 Copa America Centenario last June.

Without two of their best imports, Hebei had lost game after game and could not keep up with the rest of the contenders.

Lavezzi also suffered a fractured elbow near the end of the Copa America which had sidelined him till now. Fortunately, Gervinho is now back in Coach Li's lineup and is slowly feeling his way back again in the China top flight competitions.

The 29-year-old Ivorian striker appeared as a starter for Hebei in this goalless match against Liaoning, via Sofa Score, but is evidently not yet at his 100 percent form. He also played during the team's previous game against Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, but came as a substitute for Jiang Ning at the 70th minute.

Meanwhile, Liaoning Whowin is also on dry spell at the moment with the draw being their fourth winless game in their last five outings.

The team is currently settled at the 11th spot of the league table, though, and could still climb their way higher up the standings with still nine games left in their campaign this season.

TagsChina Football, Chinese Super League, Chinese Super League news, Hebei China Fortune FC, Liaoning Whowin FC