CSL: Martins Targets 17th Goal in 40th Game, Ighalo Hunts For 16th In 28 Matches As Shenhua‎ Host Yatai

By Johnny Edward: Super Eagles strikers, Obafemi Martins, will make his 40th Chinese Super League appearance for Shanghai Shenhua when they host Odion Ighalo’s Changchun Yatai in Friday’s League opener, Completesportsnigeria.com reports.‎

The game is billed to hold at the HongKou Football Stadium.

Martins, has played 39 CSL games for Shanghai Shenhua and has scored 16 goals.

The Nigerian strike, has already played three official games – two in the Asian.
Champions League and one in Chinese Super Cup clash), and has scored one goal prior to the CSL opener.

Since joining the club in 2016 from Seattle Sounders, Martins has
featured in 55 games scoring 29 goals and providing eight assists in all competitions.

The former Inter Milan forward will hope to start his campaign on a winning note against Changchun Yatai who will parade their top scorer from last season, Odion Ighalo.‎

Ighalo on his part will be aiming to hit the ground running in his ‎first start of his second season in the CSL with Changchun Yatai.

The former Watford striker fired blanks in his first four games in his debut season last year but ended with 15 goals in 27 league games for the club – the eighth top scorer in the CSL. Changchun Yatai‎ finished seventh in the CSL table last season.

Martins on his part scored seven goals in 13 league games for Shanghai Shenhua last season.