What a blockbuster Sunday for football lovers across Asia! Shanghai Port edged out Beijing Guoan 3-2 thanks to a sensational hat-trick by Brazilian striker Leonardo ⚽💥, delivering a thriller as intense as an Indian Super League playoff or a Thai League derby.
Leonardo kicked things off in style, capitalizing on a neat low cross from Li Shuai just 7 minutes in. Gabrielzinho almost doubled the lead before halftime, but an offside call erased the goal. Beijing responded seconds later when Fabio Abreu won and converted a penalty, leveling the score at 1-1.
After the break, Port wasted no time. Leonardo’s second goal was confirmed after a VAR (video assistant referee) review overturned an offside flag. Then, in the 79th minute, Gabrielzinho sliced through Guoan’s defense on the left wing before teeing up Leonardo for the clincher 🔥.
Beijing’s Zhang Xizhe pulled one back late on, but it wasn’t enough to stop Guoan’s fifth defeat of the season. Elsewhere, Chengdu Rongcheng were held 1-1 by Shanghai Shenhua, and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger beat Shenzhen 1-0 to move up to sixth.
With just a handful of matches remaining, the CSL title race is on fire – keep your eyes peeled for more epic showdowns! 🌏🙌
Reference(s):
Leonardo's hat-trick drops Guoan further behind Port in CSL title race
cgtn.com
