In a landmark achievement, Shanghai Port clinched their first-ever Chinese Football Association (FA) Cup title by defeating Shandong Taishan 3-1 in the final held in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, on Saturday. This victory marks Shanghai Port's second championship of the 2024 season, following their recent triumph in the Chinese Super League (CSL).
The match saw both teams creating multiple scoring opportunities in the first half, though defenses held strong. Shandong's Peng Xinli made an early threat, hitting the post after a close effort in the seventh minute. Shanghai Port broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Gustavo delivered a precise pass to Li Shuai, who skillfully finished past goalkeeper Wang Dalei.
The home side extended their lead before halftime thanks to Feng Jin, whose shot deflected off Leo Cittadini, leaving the referee no choice but to grant Shanghai Port a 2-0 advantage. Shandong Taishan managed to pull one back in the 53rd minute through Zeca, who capitalized on a defensive clearance to make it 2-1.
Despite persistent pressure from Shandong in the second half, Shanghai's goalkeeper Wang Junling remained in top form, making crucial saves. The decisive moment came in stoppage time when Oscar intercepted a pass, setting up Wang Zhen'ao to score the final goal after a deflection by defender Zheng Zheng. This sealed the 3-1 victory for Shanghai Port.
With this win, Shanghai Port joins the ranks of Shandong Taishan, Dalian Shide, and Guangzhou Evergrande as the fourth club to secure both the domestic league and Chinese FA Cup titles in the same season.
Reference(s):
Shanghai Port beat Shandong Taishan to win first ever Chinese FA Cup
cgtn.com
