What a Sunday! Shanghai Port pulled off an epic 3-2 win over Beijing Guoan that flipped the script in the Chinese Super League title race. Leading the charge was Brazilian forward Leonardo, who delivered a jaw-dropping hat-trick 🎩⚽️.
Just seven minutes in, Leonardo coolly smashed home a low cross from Li Shuai into the bottom-left corner to make it 1-0. But the drama was just getting started—Gabrielzinho thought he had doubled the lead in the 36th minute, only for the offside flag to cancel the celebration.
Beijing Guoan battled back before the break. Fabio Abreu earned a penalty in stoppage time and converted with ease to level things at 1-1. It was pure popcorn-worthy drama 🍿.
Six minutes into the second half, Shanghai Port struck again. A miscleared cross from Wang Shenchao found Leonardo at close range, and after a quick VAR check, the goal stood. Port was back in front, 2-1!
The magic moment came in the 79th minute when Gabrielzinho raced down the left wing and squared for Leonardo, who tapped in his third of the night for a 3-1 cushion. Zhang Xizhe pulled one back for Guoan, but the home side couldn’t complete the comeback.
This win keeps Shanghai Port hot on the heels of leaders Chengdu Rongcheng—both teams now level on points and separated only by goal difference. Guoan slipped to their third straight defeat, falling six points behind the top two.
Elsewhere in the CSL, Chengdu Rongcheng were held to a 1-1 draw by Shanghai Shenhua (who stay three points off the pace), while Tianjin Jinmen Tiger edged Shenzhen 1-0 to climb to sixth place.
With the title race tighter than ever, every goal counts. Who will rise to the challenge next? Stay tuned for more CSL drama! 🔥
Reference(s):
Leonardo's hat-trick drops Guoan further behind Port in CSL title race
cgtn.com
