SUZHOU, China, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian duo Anderson Talisca and Paulinho sent Guangzhou Evergrande into the final of Chinese Super League here on Monday as the defending champions knocked out Beijing Guoan 3-1 on aggregate.
The two sides played out a goalless draw in the first leg, and in Monday's game Evergrande's coach Fabio Cannavaro preferred Wei Shihao over Ai Kesen in the starting line-up while Cedric Bakambu partnered with Zhang Yuning up front for Guoan.
The game was quite open from the very beginning as both sides created a string of chances.
Talisca put Evergrande ahead in the 37th minute with a spot-kick after Fei Nanduo was charged down by Zhang Yuning in the box.
Fei Nanduo should have made it two before the interval but the naturalized player squandered a solo run with Wei better positioned to score.
Evergrande extended the lead in the 56th minute with a great move and Paulinho curled the ball into the top corner.
Zhang atoned for his error five minutes later as the hitman cushioned a volley into the net on Li Lei's cross.
Guoan's goalkeeper Hou Sen performed a series of stunning saves later but could do nothing in the 81st minute when substitute Huang Bowen squared for Paulinho to drill home.
The capital-based team then threw on Yu Dabao and Wang Ziming, but was still toothless to turn the game around.
In an early fixture, Jiangsu Sunning came from behind to beat Shanghai SIPG 2-1, securing another spot in the final.
The 16 top flight sides were split into two groups in the first phase between July 22 and September 28, playing in a round-robin format in Dalian and Suzhou.
The top four teams from each group in the first phase gathered in Suzhou to vie for the title between October 16 and November 12. The remaining eight teams will fight in the relegation group in Dalian.