Shao's goal help Munich 1860 go atop Bundesliga 2
By Fang Xuan (www.chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-21 14:26

China international Shao Jiayi scored a second-half goal on Sunday to help Munich 1860 go atop the German Bundesliga 2 division.

Shao Jiayi celebrates his goal. [sina]

Munich 1860 drew with Erzgebirge Aue 1-1 at home, but share the league's top positions with SC Freiburg and Karlsruher SC, all with 24 points. Munich 1860 is first based on goal differential.

Paderborn, Cottbus, and Bochum, all with 23 points, rank fourth to sixth place respectively, followed by Aachen with 22 points.

Aue's forward Ersin Demir capitalized on a mistake by 1860 skipper Matthias Lehmann in the 34th minute to give the visiting side a 1-0 lead.

Munich 1860 strengthened their attack in the second half. In the 68th minute, Shao Jiayi received a pass from Michal Kolomaznik and shot in the goal area. The ball went in on a deflection off the goalie.

The Chinese midfielder-turned-forward has been in good form in recent matches, after scoring in a 6th-minute goal in 1860's 2-0 victory over Wacker Burghausen in the last round.

Munich 1860's forward Nemanja Vucicevic tested positive for banned drugs last week, causing him to face lenthy suspension and making the team in danger of losing three points.

But the team manager pleaded for a mild punishment, saying the Serbian forward only used a hair tonic without consulting the team's medical staff.