Shanghai Port tightened their grip on the Chinese Super League (CSL) title race with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Beijing Guoan on Sunday, powered by Brazilian striker Leonardo's stellar hat-trick. The win keeps Port level on points with league leaders Chengdu Rongcheng, while Guoan's third consecutive loss leaves them six points adrift of the top two.
Leonardo opened the scoring in the seventh minute, capitalizing on a low cross from Li Shuai to slot home. The match saw dramatic twists as both teams had goals disallowed—Gabrielzinho for offside and Fabio Abreu for a handball—before Abreu equalized for Guoan via a penalty in first-half stoppage time.
Port reclaimed control after halftime, with Leonardo restoring their lead following a chaotic defensive error and a VAR review. The Brazilian sealed his hat-trick in the 79th minute after a swift counterattack, though Zhang Xizhe's late strike set up a tense finale. Guoan's inability to complete the comeback highlighted their recent struggles, while Port's resilience kept their title hopes alive.
Elsewhere, Chengdu Rongcheng maintained their narrow lead atop the table with a 1-1 draw against Shanghai Shenhua, while Tianjin Jinmen Tiger climbed to sixth after a 1-0 win over Shenzhen. With the CSL season heating up, the battle for continental qualification promises further drama in the weeks ahead.
