In an electrifying rescheduled Chinese Super League (CSL) clash on Tuesday, Shanghai Port surged past Meizhou Hakka with a 2-1 victory in Meizhou, Guangdong Province. This win catapulted them to the top of the table at the halfway mark of the 2024 season!
From the first whistle, Shanghai Port dominated the pitch, crafting numerous scoring opportunities. Hakka's goalkeeper, Cheng Yuelei, was kept on his toes, pulling off multiple saves to deny the visitors. Despite Hakka's resilience, the breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Leo Cittadini seized on chaos in the box after an Oscar corner, firing Port into the lead.
The tension soared when Cittadini's goal faced scrutiny for a potential handball, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood! 😲 This decision sparked frustration among Hakka's players, and Shanghai Port capitalized on this shift. Wu Lei doubled the lead in the 67th minute, showcasing his finesse and adding to Hakka's woes.
The challenges mounted for Hakka as Ye Chugui saw red after a second yellow card for a rough tackle just two minutes later. Even with ten men, Hakka didn't back down. Nebojsa Kosovic gave them a glimmer of hope in the 84th minute, volleying in a superb cross from Yang Chaosheng.
The closing moments were nail-biting! Hakka pressed hard for an equalizer, but Yang's last-ditch effort was heroically blocked by the Port defense. The final whistle marked the end of Hakka's three-game unbeaten run and a triumphant night for Shanghai Port.
What a match! The CSL never disappoints, and this game was a testament to the passion and unpredictability of football. Stay tuned for more thrilling action!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
