The 21st round of the 2023 Chinese Super League (CSL) season ended with the last four matches on the evening of August 9, Beijing time. After some fierce battles, Beijing Guoan drew 0:0 away to Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Wuhan Sanzhen beat Henan 4:2 at home, Dalian People defeated Cangzhou Lions 1:2 away, and Shanghai Shenhua beat Shenzhen 3:0 at home.
Earlier in the season, Shenhua had led and then been overtaken by Shanghai Seaport, but trailed by only three points at half-time. Unexpectedly, Shenhua collapsed in the second half, especially in the last two weeks, when they suffered two consecutive defeats, firstly to Shanghai in the first campaign, and then to the Daren in the last round. Last night, Shenhua returned to the Shanghai Stadium to take on bottom-feeder Shenzhen, and finally found a way to win. After the opening, Shenhua completely suppressed the Shenzhen team, in the Hanchao front consecutively got a good chance, but his shots all hit the airplane. In the 27th minute, Shanghai Shenhua got a free kick opportunity at the 45 degree corner on the left side of the front field, and Xu Haoyang hit the ball at the head of the slope. :0 First record.
In the first half of extra time, Shenhua had a chance to take a free kick from the right side of the field at a 45-degree angle. This time, Malelai caught a bit of it on the left side of the box. He headed the ball back to the right and gave it to Wu Xi. Wu Xi adjusted his footing, turned and fired a left-footed shot into the air, and the ball hit the ground into the net. Shenhua led 2:0 at half time. Shenhua still firmly grasp the situation on the field, both sides failed to break the goal. Until the 91st minute, Shenhua quickly counterattack. Malelai received a pass from Jiang Shenglong in the middle of the field and ran forward with the ball all the way. Malaleme suddenly pumped the ball hard into the net before killing the top of the penalty area arc. Maleleme opened the scoring twice. With his 2 shots and 1 pass, he created 3 goals. Shenhua home 3 goals. : 0 to beat Shenzhen, stopping 2 consecutive losses.
Defending champions Wuhan Three Town have always struggled to have a balanced attack and defense this season. With Malcolm's return, Wuhan Three Town will also have to work hard to qualify for the AFC Championship. The winning streak came to an end when they lost to Zhejiang on the road in the last round. Last night, Wuhan Sanzhen returned home and recovered in time. Only 10 minutes into the game. Wuhan Sanzhen's forward shifted to the left. Stanchou took a step inside the penalty area and dismantled the ball. After that, he cut inside and took off the clip and fired a powerful shot. The ball hit the defender and refracted it into the net. Wuhan Sanzhen got off to a good start 1:0. In the first 7 minutes of the match, Henan Songshan made continuous cooperation in the middle of the front field. Huang Zichang scalpel-type straight tore through Wuhan Sanzhen defense, Zhong Yihao left high-speed into the penalty area, left-footed shot, Henan Songshan 1: 1 equalized the score.
Just four minutes later, Wuhan Sanzhen front field siege, Stanchou box right side to open the defense, shot vigorously. Goalkeeper Wang Guoming struggled to pounce on the ball, Aziz left side of the penalty area, Wuhan Sanzhen 2.:1 quickly over the score again. In the 62nd minute, Henan Songshan in the middle of the front field again elaborate cooperation, in the top of the arc of Adrian's penalty area to do the ball, De Nici stop the ball on the line of the penalty area to adjust, the far corner of the push shot success, Henan Songshan 2: 2 again equalized the score. Wuhan Sanzhen then launched a fierce attack. In the 78th minute, after Xie Pengfei shook the defense on the right side of the penalty area, he sent a left-footed pass to the goal mouth. Malcolm, who appeared as a substitute, grabbed some fish and swooped a powerful header to attack the goal. The ball should be into the net, Wuhan Three Town 3: third, the score will be more than. In the 88th minute, Wuhan Sanzhen counterattacked quickly at the back, Davidson ran with the ball all the way to the center line and exquisitely dipped the ball. Malcolm left high-speed insertion, got a one-touch opportunity. Facing the attacking Wang Guoming, Malcolm scored twice, Wuhan Sanzhen 4.:2 locked the victory.
As for the table, Shenhua moved up to the second place again after stopping two consecutive defeats, surpassing Shandong Taishan and Chengdu Rongcheng. Shanghai Harbor's lead is still the same as the previous round, 14 points ahead. Shenhua has stopped the decline, but chasing 14 points in 9 rounds is extremely difficult. Beijing Guoan had a hard time winning the draw against Wang Jinmen Tiger. Wuhan Sanzhen won and overtook by one point to advance to fifth, three points behind Chengdu Rongcheng. There is still a good chance for the top three.
Leonardo leads the scorers' table with 15 goals, with Wu Lei catching up but one goal short of second place. Aziz became the fifth double goal scorer of the season after scoring last night to catch up with Kovic as they are tied for fourth with 10 goals. Maleleme is in the top 10 for the second time, a goal short of Felipe in seventh. Owusu has caught up with Klassan, with the likes of Fellaini just squeezing into the top 10.
