Alexandre Pato scores on Tianjin Quanjian debut but Chinese Super League side blow two-goal lead to lose 3-2 in friendly against Serie B strugglers Pisa
Fabio Cannavaro tried to sign Diego Costa in January, but defeat highlights extreme chasm his side still need to make up
ALEXANDRE PATO scored on his Tianjin Quanjian debut — but the Chinese Super League side lost 3-2 in a friendly against Serie B strugglers, Pisa.
It was a battle of Italy legends in the dug-out as Gennaro Gattuso came out on top against Fabio Cannavaro.
It was the first managerial meeting of the two 2006 World Cup winners.
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Quanjian have lofty ambitions — having made attempts to sign Diego Costa from Chelsea during the January transfer window.
However, despite fielding Pato and Axel Witsel, who moved to the Chinese Super League ahead of Juventus, were brought back down to Earth with a bang.
They threw away a two-goal lead against a side who currently sit 18th in Italy’s second tier — and only above the relegation zone on goal difference.
This just highlights the supreme difference in quality between the Far East sign and Europe's top sides.
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Quanjian opened the scoring through Geuvanio after just 50 seconds at Pisa’s Arena Garibaldi.
And it was 2-0 on the half hour mark when debutant, Pato, notched his first goal for the club.
Pisa were awarded a penalty late in the half, but missed the chance to pull one back.
However, Gattuso made some changes during the interval and Gaetano Masucci brought his side back into the contest.
Before free-kicks from Daniele Mannini and Diego Peralta completed the mpressive turnaround.
After the match, Cannavaro thanked his former international team-mate for the friendly contest — and admitted he is still in the market for a striker.
Having missed out on Costa, it is believed he will turn to Fiorentina’s former Blackburn striker, Nikola Kalinic.