Hey there, football fam! In a thrilling early clash of the Chinese Super League, Chengdu Rongcheng stunned last season’s runners-up Shanghai Shenhua with a narrow 1-0 win in front of a packed Sichuan crowd. Shenhua nearly got on the board when Zhu Chenjie’s looping header bounced off the bar in the 23rd minute—but it was Chengdu who seized the moment.
Just four minutes later, former Brazil U23 forward Romulo capitalized on a scramble in the box to score his sixth of the season, putting Chengdu ahead. Despite relentless pressure in the second half, including a free kick by Joao Teixeira that ricocheted off the post, Shenhua couldn’t find the equalizer. Teixeira’s second yellow card in stoppage time sealed their fate, and Chengdu leapt to the top on goal difference, nudging Shenhua into second place.
The excitement didn't stop there! Over at Qingdao West Coast, the home side cruised to a 3-1 victory over Meizhou Hakka. The action kicked off with a near-goal from Davidson—a shot so spectacular it could have been the goal of the season, only to bounce off the bar. Abdul-Aziz Yakubu made the most of it by scoring off the rebound, then brilliantly assisted Duan Liuyu just 11 minutes into the second half.
Nelson da Luz stole the spotlight with a dazzling solo run, making it 3-0 with 23 minutes left on the clock, while Branimir Jocic added a late consolation for Meizhou with a close-range header. With 10 matchdays now under their belt, the CSL table sees Chengdu and Shenhua leading the charge, trailed by Beijing Guoan and the two-time defending champions, Shanghai Port.
Stay tuned for more high-energy action and keep the football spirit alive! ⚽🔥
Reference(s):
CSL: Chengdu edge Shanghai Shenhua to go top, QWC defeat Meizhou
cgtn.com
