Nantong Jiyun vs. the Harbor
Although Nantong Zhiyun is known as "the title of the Harbor Friendship Association Army", this reputation did not stop the tragedy. Nantong Zhiyun lost 1-8 in a tough match, leaving them in the vice-chairman's position. Nantong Zhiyun's march towards the China A-League seemed unstoppable, just as Seaport's defense of their title was firm. As a Shandong fan, Seaport has won 14 consecutive games by a score of 8-1. Whether Taishan can continue their impressive winning streak depends on Shanghai Shenhua's performance.
As the game came to a close, Coach Harbor said bluntly, "Victory is not given to others." This statement is harsh but true. Looking at Harbour's stats this season, they have scored 72 goals after the end of the league. This number not only far exceeds the total goals scored in 30 rounds when they won the title last season (61), but also exceeds the total goals scored in 30 rounds by Guangzhou Evergrande when they won the title in the 2019 season before the epidemic (68). In the last round, Seaport beat Qingdao Hainiu with a minimum spending of 5-0 to make it 13 wins in a row. Buoyed by their winning streak, Seaport performed particularly well against Shandong Luneng and Guangzhou Evergrande.
However, in 2006, Shandong Luneng set a record of 13 consecutive victories and won the title six rounds ahead of schedule. Now, the record of 13 consecutive wins has been refreshed by Harbour, while the suspense of winning the title six rounds ahead of schedule is still unveiled. This depends on two things: first, the Harbor's own performance is stable, the weak team scored more than five goals, and the attacking power is amazing; second, the situation of the competitors. With Beijing Guoan and Shandong Taishan already behind, and Chengdu Rongcheng not stable enough, Hong Kong's only remaining competitor is fellow city team Shanghai Shenhua.
The Seaports are currently in first place with 57 points from 18 wins and 3 draws in 21 matches, scoring a total of 72 CSL goals. Shanghai Shenhua follows with 52 points from 20 matches, 16 wins and 4 draws, and has only conceded 8 goals in 20 matches, making them the sturdiest defensive team in the Chinese Super League. It's easy to see that Shanghai Shenhua is a combination of spear and shield, with both teams undefeated since the start of the tournament, and the consistency is staggering. With 9 rounds left in the league (Shenhua has 10 more to go), the title is almost a foregone conclusion, and even a direct showdown between the two teams will decide the title. The biggest suspense at the moment may lie in breaking this pattern.
Facing a 0-6 defeat at the hands of Shenhua and ultimately having to rely on Shanghai Shenhua, Taishan, should they say hello or goodbye?
