In an electrifying showdown on the Chinese mainland, two-time defending CSL champions Shanghai Port experienced a twist of fate as they settled for a 3-3 draw against Qingdao West Coast in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.
The game burst into life early when Qingdao West Coast exploited defensive lapses by Shanghai Port’s goalkeeper Yan Junling. In the ninth minute, Matheus Indio intercepted a sloppy pass to open the scoring, and just 10 minutes later, a similar mix-up set the stage for Abdul-Aziz Yakubu to double the advantage.
Shanghai Port quickly answered the charge in the 25th minute as 19-year-old Li Xinxiang broke in from the left and fired a shot past the opposition. However, the intensity did not wane; Yakubu further extended Qingdao’s lead by adding a third goal in the first minute of stoppage time just before the halftime whistle. This marked a historic moment for Qingdao as they notched up their first-ever three-match unbeaten start.
The second half witnessed a resilient comeback by Shanghai Port. Li Xinxiang continued his impressive form by beating a defender on the left wing and connecting with teammate Gustavo, reducing the deficit to one. In a dramatic finish, Feng Jin’s cross in the 83rd minute found Li, whose precise pass allowed Leonardo to level the score, sealing a 3-3 draw.
Despite the intense action and equalizer from Qingdao, Shanghai Port maintained their lead in the CSL standings with seven points from the season's opening three games. Elsewhere on Friday, Zhejiang Professional secured a convincing 4-0 win over Wuhan Three Towns, while Yunnan Yukun edged past Shenzhen 4-3 in another thrilling encounter.
Reference(s):
Shanghai Port, Qingdao West Coast combine for six goals in 3-3 draw
cgtn.com
