Shanghai Shenhua surged to the summit of the Chinese Super League (CSL) with a decisive 3-1 win over Meizhou Hakka on Tuesday, securing their position as league leaders with 26 points. The victory, marked by dramatic momentum shifts, edged Shenhua ahead of Chengdu Rongcheng on goal difference in a tightly contested title race.
Despite Meizhou's spirited efforts, including Saulo Mineiro’s thunderous 31st-minute strike rattling the crossbar, Shenhua struck first after a chaotic scramble in the 60th minute. Liu Chengyu capitalized on the confusion, slotting home from close range to ignite the hosts' momentum. Five minutes later, Mineiro redeemed his earlier miss with a pinpoint header off Wilson Manafa’s cross, doubling the advantage.
Meizhou clawed back a goal late in the 85th minute through Yue Tze Nam’s precise finish, but Shenhua extinguished hopes of a comeback in stoppage time. Mineiro turned provider, sprinting downfield on the counterattack to set up Yang Haoyu’s tap-in, sealing the victory.
"We wanted to regain confidence today," said Liu Chengyu, reflecting on his opener. "The conditions were challenging, but we stayed focused." The result leaves Shenhua poised as title contenders, while Meizhou remains 10th, struggling to climb the table.
