Jancker a hit in Shanghai on debut

Bremen's Finnish defender Petri Pasanen heads for the ball against Kaiserslautern's striker Carsten Jancker (L) during their Bundesliga football match at Bremen's Weserstadion stadium, in December 2004. Jancker proved a hit in his first match with Shanghai Shenhua despite failing to find the net in a 3-0 win over Liaoning.

Former German international striker Carsten Jancker proved a hit in his first match with Shanghai Shenhua despite failing to find the net in a 3-0 win over Liaoning, state press said.

Jancker, who signed a one-year contract last week, came on in the 61st minute of Thursday's match with Shenhua leading 2-0 and a boisterous crowd chanting his name.

The 1.94m (six-foot, four-inch) former Bayern Munich and Udinese target-man, who scored 10 goals in 33 appearances for Germany, came close to making the perfect debut when he seized on a cross and chipped just wide in the 81st minute.

"The atmosphere on the pitch was pretty cool. My team-mates really played well, but I still need some time to gradually find my rhythm," Jancker told journalists after the match.

"This is my first match so I was a little winded, I still need some time to fit in with the team."

Jancker, who won the Champions League with Bayern in 2001, won praise from his new coach and team-mates.

"It was pretty clear that our opponents were adjusting to him, so all he needs is a few matches to get in form," Shanghai coach Wu Jingui said following the match.

Jancker had an injury-hit season with Kaiserslautern, playing only five matches and failing to find the net as his team were relegated from the German top flight.

He said before arriving in Shanghai that several European clubs had been interested in him but that the opportunity to play in China was too tempting.

Shanghai currently stand fourth in the Super League.

Aside from the domestic competition, Jancker can look forward to a bigger stage with Shenhua already through to the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League title, the continent's premier club competition.