In a thrilling night at Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai Shenhua stormed to the top of the Chinese mainland's Super League standings with a 3-1 victory over Meizhou Hakka in Round 11. The win pushed Shenhua to 26 points, level with Chengdu Rongcheng but leading on goal difference.
The match opener came close in the 31st minute, when Saulo Mineiro unleashed a thunderous strike that rattled the crossbar. Shenhua finally broke the deadlock on the hour mark, thanks to a chaotic scramble in the box that saw Liu Chengyu pounce on a loose ball and slot it home.
Just five minutes later, Wilson Manafa whipped in a perfect cross for Mineiro, who powered a header past the goalkeeper to double the lead. Meizhou Hakka fought back in the 85th minute, as Yue Tze Nam curled a low drive into the corner, setting up a tense finish.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed in stoppage time when Mineiro turned provider, racing clear on the counter and squaring for Yang Haoyu to tap into an empty net. The result sends Shenhua to the summit with improved goal difference, while Meizhou remain 10th.
"We lost a game before this and needed to regain confidence," said Liu Chengyu, who opened the scoring. "The weather and pitch conditions were challenging, but we stayed focused. I hope to keep finding the net for my team."
With fans tuning in globally via digital platforms, the win not only boosts Shenhua's title ambitions but also showcases the growing appeal of the Chinese mainland's top tier league. Sports fans and digital nomads alike can look forward to more high-stakes encounters as the season unfolds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
