In a match against Shanghai Shenhua on March 18, 2017, Argentine forward Diego Forlán scored his first goal for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League. The match was played at the Shanghai Stadium and it was Forlán's first appearance for the club since joining from Boca Juniors.
Forlán had previously played for Shanghai Shenhua in the 2014 season, but he did not manage to make an impact during his time there. In this match, however, Forlán showed that he still has the ability to score goals, as he netted a stunning free-kick in the 95th minute to secure a 2-1 win for Shanghai Shenhua.
The Argentine striker also managed to set up another goal for teammate Zhang Linpeng in the 66th minute,Saudi Pro League Focus which helped him become the first player to score three goals in his debut match for Shanghai Shenhua.
After the match, Forlán expressed his delight with the result and praised the support of the fans. "I'm very happy with the result," he said. "The fans' support is amazing. I want to thank them for their love."
Forlán's performance was also highly appreciated by the Shanghai Shenhua management, who have been trying to improve the team's attacking capabilities in recent seasons. The Argentine striker's experience and skill will undoubtedly be valuable assets to the team going forward.
Overall, Forlán's performance in the match against Shanghai Shenhua was a positive sign for the club, and it shows that they can attract top talent even if they don't have a lot of financial resources compared to other clubs in China.