Reporter Wang Wei reported that on the evening of May 10, the sixth round of the 2023 season of the Chinese Super League, Meizhou Hakka team took on Changchun Sports Center Stadium to challenge Changchun Yatai team. Meizhou Hakka scored four goals in the whole game, playing the most lively game since the opening match, and is also the current Chinese Super League team with the most goals in a single game. Remarkably, after the rotation, Meizhou Hakka's attacking unit has been a major force, scoring nine goals in the first six rounds, currently the second-most of any team in the entire Chinese Super League. The unassuming Meizhou Hakka has inadvertently given the Chinese Super League a small jolt.
In the fifth round of the Chinese Super League, Meizhou Hakka defeated Shandong Taishan 2-1 at home. Meizhou Hakka returned to Changchun in the sixth round of the league to challenge Changchun Yatai on the road, with Meizhou Hakka players and Changchun Yatai veterans Rao Weihui and Yang Chaochao returning to Changchun. During their time at Yatai, they not only helped Yatai win the 2020 season's Central League title, but also helped the team win the fourth place in the Chinese Super League in the 2021 season. Both players performed well against their old hosts in this match.
In the consecutive matches against Taishan and Changchun Yatai, Meizhou Hakka rotated the offensive end of the starting list, and the offensive players such as foreigners Gisen, Lobzanidze, and Ye Chugui were fully rested to face the opponents in their best condition. Facing Changchun Yatai, Meizhou Hakka used a pass-control approach, with the team's formation pressing forward and the ball firmly under control, Ye Chugui and Rodriguez actively organizing the attack in front of the field and creating many shots on goal. Just 12 minutes into the game, Ye Chugui finished the scoring to help Meizhou Hakka take the lead. The goal also gave Ye Chugui his second goal since the start of the season.
In the second half, Meizhou Hakka head coach Milan replaced Yang Chaochao, Kosovic and Ru Zinan in three consecutive substitutions. Among them, as the main force, Ru Zinan also rotated to rest and came on as a substitute. The center of the midfield, Kosovic, took the field again after six months. Since his right knee was seriously injured on the road against Wuhan Changjiang on November 4 last season, Kosovic has been in a long-term rehabilitation stage.
Although he has also appeared on the team's bench this season, he has yet to get a chance to play. His return was very important for Meizhou Hakka, and it gave Meizhou Hakka's attacking unit a good midfield dressing. Milan's substitution had an immediate effect. Yang Chaochao caught opposing goalkeeper Wu Yako in less than a minute and made a mistake to break the door of his old boss. After the equalizer, Meizhou Hakka's offense was above a wave, and Rodrigo took advantage of the opportunity to score beyond the score.
Thereafter, Meizhou Hakka began a steady counterattack, continuous counterattacks to make the Yatai defense tired, forcing goalkeeper Wu Yako again attack error, Yang ultrasonic header into the empty goal, and ultimately 4-2 to keep the last, both sides of the six goals, the game created a record of the most goals scored in the first six rounds of the Chinese Super League.
Meizhou Hakka earned their first away win of the season. The Chinese Super League standings show that Meizhou Hakka's total goals in the first six rounds amounted to nine, one less than Chengdu Rongcheng, who currently have a total of 10, and are ranked second. However, the eight goals conceded figure also puts Meizhou Hakka in seventh place.
Next, the Meijo Hakka team will need to continue to strengthen their offense with adjustments to their defense. With the return of Kosovic, the team's offensive line will further improve. In addition, the Meizhou Hakka's offensive group has initially highlighted its firepower, with Ye Chugui, Dujalić and Yang Chao all scoring two goals to make the top scorer list.
With two wins, two draws and two losses in the first six rounds, the points ranking has steadily improved. Cao Yang, general manager of Meizhou Hakka Football Club, said, "Our team is still stable. Although we haven't won a single game in the first four matches, our performance is basically normal. I agree with the team's overall performance."
For the current Meizhou Hakka team, after the deepening of the team's bench thickness, how to do a good job of player rotation and maximize the players is a very critical step. 3:30 p.m. on May 14, Meizhou Hakka will continue to challenge Qingdao Hainiu on the road, which will be another challenge of rotation.
