In a thrilling display of offensive power, Shandong Taishan finally overcame a frustrating three-year winless streak against Shanghai Shenhua this week. The home side secured a commanding 4-1 victory in Jinan, located in the Chinese mainland's Shandong Province, marking a significant turnaround in their head-to-head rivalry.
The star of the night was undoubtedly the Brazilian forward Cryzan, who orchestrated the attack and played a pivotal role in every single goal. His influence was felt early in the 24th minute when he delivered a precise cross from the right, allowing Zeca to seal the opening goal with a diving header.
Taishan wasted no time in extending their lead. Just two minutes later, Valeri Qazaishvili surged down the left flank and found Cryzan, who converted from close range to make it 2-0.
Shanghai Shenhua attempted to fight back before the halftime whistle. In the 42nd minute, 19-year-old Liu Chengyu found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out after a handball violation, leaving the young player with a yellow card instead of a goal.
The momentum remained with the hosts after the break. In the 52nd minute, Zeca returned the favor, releasing Cryzan on a counter-attack for a powerful finish that pushed the lead to 3-0.
While Rafael Ratao managed to pull one back for Shenhua in the 63rd minute by converting a free kick from Xie Pengfei, any hopes of a comeback were short-lived. Nine minutes later, Cryzan completed his hat-trick, restoring the three-goal margin and cementing an emphatic win for the home crowd.
This victory has propelled Shandong Taishan to fifth place in the Chinese Super League standings, providing a much-needed boost to their current campaign.
Other results from Tuesday's CSL action include:
- Qingdao West Coast 1-1 Tianjin Jinmen Tiger
- Liaoning Tieren 0-1 Sichuan Rongcheng
- Chongqing Tongliang 1-1 Henan
Reference(s):
Shandong Taishan ends winless run against Shanghai Shenhua in CSL
cgtn.com
