In the sixth round of the Chinese Super League (CSL), Meizhou Hakka and Changchun Yatai played at Changchun Sports Center on May 10th. Meizhou Hakka won the match by 4 goals, becoming the team with the most goals in a single match in the Chinese Super League. In this round, Meizhou Hakka's offense was rejuvenated, scoring 9 goals in the first 6 rounds, which is the second highest in the Chinese Super League's goal scoring list. This usually low-profile Meizhou Hakka team unexpectedly brought a ripple to the Chinese Super League.
Looking back at the fifth round, Meizhou Hakka narrowly beat Shandong Taishan 2-1 at home. In the sixth round, the team challenged Changchun Yatai on the road, and team veterans Rao Weihui and Yang Chao returned to their hometown. During their time at Yatai, they helped the team win the Central League title and finish fourth in the Chinese Super League. In this campaign, both players showed excellent form.
Facing Changchun Yatai, Meizhou Hakka rotated their attacking lineup, with foreigners Gisen, Lobzanidze, Ye Chugui and other players fully rested. The team focused on passing control, the formation forward pressure, Ye Chugui and Rodriguez actively organized the attack, creating many opportunities for the team to shoot. Only 12 minutes into the match, Ye Chugui broke the deadlock and gave Meizhou Hakka the lead.
In the second half, Meizhou Hakka head coach Milan replaced Yang Chaochao, Kosovic and Ru Zinan, with starter Ru Zinan also getting a rest. Kosovic, the center of the midfield, returned to the field after six months and has been in the rehabilitation stage since his injury last season. His return injected new energy into the Meizhou Hakka's offensive line. Milan's substitution strategy was effective as Yang Chao seized the opportunity to break through and equalize the score for his team.
Meizhou Hakka then launched a steady counterattack, with consecutive attacks tiring out the Yatai defense. Goalkeeper Wu Yako made another mistake and Yang Chao scored with a header to seal the 4-2 win. The game set a record for most goals scored in the first six rounds of the Chinese Super League.
Meizhou Hakka got their first away win of the season. The Chinese Super League stat sheet shows that Meizhou Hakka scored a total of nine goals in the first six rounds, second only to Chengdu Rongcheng. However, the eight goals conceded also put the team in seventh place.
Next, the Meizhou Hakka team needs to continue to strengthen their offense while adjusting their defense. With the return of Kosovic, the team's offensive line is expected to improve further. Players such as Ye Chugui, Dujalić and Yang Chaochao have been outstanding, contributing to the team's goals.
With two wins, two draws and two losses in the first six rounds, Meizhou Hakka steadily improved its points ranking. Cao Yang, the club's general manager, said, "The team's performance is stable, and the overall performance is basically normal despite the fact that it has not won in the first four matches."
Facing Meizhou Hakka's deepening bench, it is crucial to rotate players well and give full play to their strengths. 3:30 p.m. on May 14, Meizhou Hakka will challenge Qingdao Hainiu on the road, which will be a new challenge for the rotation.
