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Luiz Felipe Scolari hailed evergreen Guangzhou Evergrande captain Zheng Zhi after the Chinese Super League champions extended their lead at the top of the current standings to 11 points on Friday evening. Evergrande, who are on track to claim a seventh straight league title in a row, handed Changchun Yatai a 3-1 defeat to extend their advantage over Shanghai SIPG, who face Tianjin Teda on Saturday. Ricardo Goulart scored twice while fellow Brazilian Alan Carvalho was also on the scoresheet. But it was 37-year-old Zheng who the World Cup-winning coach praised after Guangzhou's 18th win of the season. "Zheng Zhi's fighting spirit and professional attitude are an example to all Chinese players," said Scolari. "He played for the national team but, no matter his state of mind, he always gives his best. "He's 37 years old but he's like an 18-year-old and he works so hard. He is an example to everyone and it's a pleasure for me to be able to work with such a player." Following the sale of Brazilian midfielder Paulinho -- Guangzhou's best player this season -- to Barcelona last month and the loss of China international Huang Bowen to injury, Scolari stressed Zheng's important to the team had increased. "At the minute the team really needs Zheng Zhi because we now not only lack Paulinho, but also Huang Bowen," he said. "We need to establish a new midfield system. "The characteristics of each midfielder are different so we need to establish a new midfield system for the games coming up in the Asian Champions League and in the league." Zheng was instrumental in Guangzhou's win on Friday evening, sliding the ball into Goulart's path for the first goal after 26 minutes before the 28-year-old Brazilian converted from the penalty spot to double his side's lead in the 59th minute. Anzur Ismailov halved the deficit for Changchun just after the hour mark only for Zheng to set up Carvalho for Evergrande's third in the 66th minute and seal Guangzhou's fifth league win in a row in the league.
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YAT
